This disclosure provides generally for antimicrobial compositions and methods for reducing or preventing microorganism growth, viability, or survival, which are useful for treating poultry, meat, seafood, vegetables, legumes, fruit, crops, and other products for human or animal consumption. For example, the compositions can include GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) antimicrobial components such as ε-poly-L-lysine in combination with at least one quaternary ammonium salt, including an aliphatic heteroaryl ammonium salt such as cetylpyridinium chloride.