The relevant main constituents of rosemary are compound of a vast number of polyphenolics, including carnosic acid, carnosol, rosmarinic acid, and ursolic acid. Recently, phenolic compounds of plant origin have attracted considerable attention due to their beneficial functional and nutritional effects including antioxidant and antibacterial activity. This study was carried out to investigated effect of carnosic acid on pH, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS), volatile basic nitrogen (VBN), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, and total bacteria counts in white sausage during the storage at room temperature. Addition of carnosic acid was decreased of pH, TBARS, VBN, and enhanced antioxidant and antibacterial activity in white sausage. These activities increased with increasing concentrations of carnosic acid. Furthermore, the potent antibacterial activities of carnosic acid against pathogenic bacteria (Escherichia coli KCCM 11234 and Salmonella enteritidis KCCM 12021) were measured. Carnosic acid showed noticeable inhibitory effects on E. coli and S. enteritidis. In conclusion, carnosic acid might be used as a natural preservative in white sausage.