Novel antimicrobial products and methods of making and using the same are shown, whereby the products can be used in the same or greater percentages as conventional microbial growth inhibitors without imparting an off-flavor, taste, color or odor to the products in which they are used. The antimicrobial products are formed by reacting azodicarbonamide or an ammonia gas with a compound selected from the group consisting of benzoic acid, sodium benzoate, calcium benzoate, potassium benzoate, acetic acid, sodium diacetate, paraben, niacin, calcium acetate, calcium diacetate, citric acid, lactic acid, fumaric acid, sorbic acid, sodium sorbate, calcium sorbate, potassium sorbate, propionic acid, sodium propionate, calcium propionate, potassium propionate and mixtures thereof. In one embodiment, the product is prepared by placing a layer of azodicarbonamide on a substrate and covering the layer with a gas permeable separator. The antimicrobial compound is then added on top of the separator, and the combination is heated to form the final product. In another embodiment, the product is prepared by exposing the antimicrobial compound to an ammonia gas. The ammonia gas reacts with free acids in the antimicrobial compound to convert the free acids into ammonium salts, thereby eliminating off-flavor and off-odor of the resulting antimicrobial product. The antimicrobial products prepared according to the present invention are suitable for use in foodstuffs, sanitation products, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and so forth.