Radiation tolerance of Bacillus cereus pre-treated with carvacrol alone or in combination with nisin after exposure to single and multiple sub-lethal radiation treatment

► Response of Bacillus cereus to mild treatments, antimicrobials and irradiation was evaluated. ► Carvacrol and nisin enhance the radiation sensitivity of B. cereus. ► Increased radioresistance with repetitively 1 kGy was observed with antimicrobial. ► Radioresistance might be related to changes in the cell wall.