Aims: This study was focused on the possibility to inactivate food-borne pathogen Bacillus cereus by Na-chlorophyllin (Na-Chl)-based photosensitization in vitro and after attachment to the surface of packaging material. Methods and Results: Bacillus cereus in vitro or attached to the packaging was incubated with Na-Chl (7 center dot 5 x 10-8 to 7 center dot 5 x 10-5 mol l-1) for 2-60 min in phosphate buffer saline. Photosensitization was performed by illuminating cells under a light with a lambda of 400 nm and an energy density of 20 mW cm-2. The illumination time varied 0-5 min and subsequently the total energy dose was 0-6 J cm-2. The results show that B. cereus vegetative cells in vitro or attached to the surface of packaging after incubation with 7 center dot 5 x 10-7 mol l-1 Na-Chl and following illumination were inactivated by 7 log. The photoinactivation of B. cereus spores in vitro by 4 log required higher (7 center dot 5 x 10-6 mol l-1) Na-Chl concentration. Decontamination of packaging material from attached spores by photosensitization reached 5 log at 7 center dot 5 x 10-5 mol l-1 Na-Chl concentration. Comparative analysis of different packaging decontamination treatments indicates that washing with water can diminish pathogen population on the surface by < 1 log, 100 ppm Na-hypochlorite reduces the pathogens about 1 center dot 7 log and 200 ppm Na-hypochlorite by 2 center dot 2 log. Meanwhile, Na-Chl-based photosensitization reduces bacteria on the surface by 4 center dot 2 orders of magnitude. Conclusions: Food-borne pathogen B. cereus could be effectively inactivated (7 log) by Na-Chl-based photosensitization in vitro and on the surface of packaging material. Spores are more resistant than vegetative cells to photosensitization-based inactivation. Comparison of different surface decontamination treatments indicates that Na-Chl-based photosensitization is much more effective antibacterial tool than washing with water or 200 ppm Na-hypochlorite. Significance and Impact of the Study: Our data support the idea that Na-Chl-based photosensitization has great potential for future application as an environment-friendly, nonthermal surface decontamination technique.