Antibacterial packaging material including hop acids

An antibacterial packaging material including a layer comprising matted cellulosic fibers is disclosed. The layer comprising matted cellulosic fibers has opposed surfaces, and a hop acid selected from alpha-acids, beta-acids, and mixtures thereof is dispersed in the fibers and between the opposed surfaces. A coating of polymeric material (e.g., a polyolefin) may be disposed on the layer comprising matted cellulosic fibers to provide a coated material. The antibacterial packaging material is useful in that the growth of gram positive spore-forming bacteria such as Clostridium and/or Bacillus (e.g., Bacillus anthracis ) within or on the material is inhibited. In another form, a hop acid is disposed on at least a portion of one of the surfaces of the layer comprising matted cellulosic fibers. A coating of polymeric material is disposed over the hop acid and at least over a portion of one of the surfaces of the layer comprising matted cellulosic fibers.