An object of the present invention is to provide a germination inhibitor that has a germination-inhibiting effect on heat-resistant spore-forming bacteria but has little bitterness peculiar to sucrose fatty acid esters and does not impair the flavor of food and drink. It is. The above-mentioned problems are solved by using, as an active ingredient, a sucrose fatty acid ester in which 90 mol% or more of the constituent fatty acid is palmitic acid. [Selection figure] None【課題】本発明の課題は、耐熱性芽胞形成細菌の発芽抑制効果を有しつつも、ショ糖脂肪酸エステル特有の苦味が少なく、飲食品の風味を損なうことのない発芽抑制剤を提供することである。【解決手段】構成脂肪酸の９０モル％以上がパルミチン酸であるショ糖脂肪酸エステルを有効成分とすることにより上記課題を解決する。【選択図】なし
