This study investigated the antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus (S.) aureus, Salmonella (S.) typhimurium and Escherichia (E.) coli O157:H7, and skin irritation in New Zealand white rabbits using methanol extracts of Curcuma (C.) aromatica Salisb. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of C. aromatica extracts against S. aureus, S. typhimurium and E. coli O157:H7 was 0.250, 0.250 and 0.125 mg/ml, respectively, and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the extracts against S. aureus, S. typhimurium and E. coli O157:H7 was 0.50, 0.50, 0.250 mg/ml, correspondingly. From the skin irritation test, extremely minor erythema and very slight edema were formed at 24 h after application of the extracts on the skin on abraded lesions of 2 and 1 rabbits, respectively. The primary irritation index score was estimated to be 0.13 indicating non-irritation. In conclusion, this study suggests that C. aromatica extract has the antibacterial activity against major food-borne pathogens and is not irritant to skin.