Provided are viscous and adherent food-safe antimicrobial compositions, and methods for using same in the immediate and residual decontamination of microbial-contaminated substrate surfaces, in reducing or precluding cutting implement-mediated transfer of surface contamination during cutting operations in the food industry, and for reducing or preventing transfer of contamination from contaminated surfaces in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Adherent antimicrobial protective layers are formed on substrate surfaces (e.g., processing equipment and utensils), providing a barrier (e.g., chemical and/or physical) to the passage or transport of microbial contamination between and among surfaces. The adherent formulations confer residual decontaminating activity, providing for prolonged killing of associated microbial contamination, are preferably formulated and applied as a gel, syrup or foam, and preferably comprise materials that are ‘generally-regarded-as-safe’ (GRAS) in food products, obviating post-treatment removal prior to consumption. Preferably, the inventive formulations are heated to a temperature ≧about 80° C. prior to application.
