The invention is directed to a composition comprising 90.00 to 99.95 wt % of a polyolefin and 0.05 to 10.00 weight % of an antimicrobial additive based on the total weight of the polyolefin composition wherein the antimicrobial additive comprises a phenolic group and wherein a carrier for the antimicrobial additive is present. The antimicrobial additive may be dispersed through the polyolefin composition. Preferred antimicrobial additives include for example eugenol, isoeugenol, thymol, carvacrol, sesamol, curcumin, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, gallic acid and its ester derivatives (propyl gallate, octyl gallate and dodecyl gallate), ferulic acid, syringic acid, coumaric acid, protocatechuic acid, caffeic acid and/or tannic acid.