Methods of making coated pet food kibble and the kibble product by coating kibble with a composition that include at least one of: (i) lecithin and chicken fat; (ii) lecithin, a glycerol monoester of a fatty acid, a sugar monoester of a fatty acid, and chicken fat; (iii) lecithin, Nα—(C8-C18) acyl arginine alkyl (C1-C8) ester, and chicken fat; or (iv) Nα—(C8-C18) acyl arginine alkyl (C1-C8) ester-thymol and chicken fat. When the pet food kibble coated with a composition as described above, exhibits amounts of Salmonella sp. that are reduced by about 99%. This reduction is effective for at least 60 days post coating when compared to pet food kibble coated with a composition lacking one of (i)-(iv). The compositions are also used in a method for treating raw beef or poultry prior to grinding where the ground meat exhibits amounts of Salmonella sp. that are reduced by about 99%.