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Pizza consumption may protect people against winter vomiting disease, according to a new study.

Researchers found that a common ingredient in pizza fights off winter vomiting disease, or norovirus, by destroying the virus' tough outer coat.

Researchers said the findings are important because norovirus is the leading cause of vomiting and diarrhea worldwide and is known to be particularly rampant in hospitals, nursing homes, cruise ships and schools. While most people recover from the illness within a few days, this highly infectious virus can be dangerous for those with existing serious medical problems.

The latest study revealed that carvacrol, a substance found in oregano oil, kills the norovirus by acting directly on the virus capsid, a tough layer of proteins that surrounds the virus.

Researchers said the latest findings suggest that carvacrol could be used as a sanitizer to prevent future foodborne-disease outbreaks.

"Carvacrol could potentially be used as a food sanitizer and possibly as a surface sanitizer, particularly in conjunction with other antimicrobials. We have some work to do to assess its potential but carvacrol has a unique way of attacking the virus, which makes it an interesting prospect," lead researcher Dr. Kelly Bright of the University of Arizona said in a news release.

As a sanitizer, carvacrol would most likely be used with another antimicrobial. Researchers explain that the other antimicrobial would be used to kill the internal part of the virus after carvacrol has broken down the virus' outer layer. Carvacrol can also potentially prevent norovirus from developing resistance because it acts on the external proteins of the virus.

The findings are published in the Journal of Applied Microbiology.