UV Germicidal Disinfection Helps Restaurants Stay Safe

Restaurants have a responsibility to provide a safe, clean environment to customers as well as to serve healthy food, free from harmful bacteria and pathogens. Foodborne illnesses cause an estimated 1,686 deaths every year in the U.S. with over 38 million reported cases of gastrointestinal illnesses. UVC lamps provide valuable benefits to all food establishments including restaurants, food and beverage processing facilities. 

UV disinfection of food products is called food irradiation and helps to prevent early spoilage and harmful bacteria and viruses from developing. Food irradiation is proven to eliminate Salmonella, E. Coli and other harmful microorganisms. UV sterilization lamps used on food products is regulated by the FDA as an approved disinfection method for use on many food items including:

• Fruits and vegetables

• Meats and raw poultry

• Many dairy products

• Beverages

UV Lamps Beneficial in Many Areas of Restaurants

In addition to improving the safety of food items, UV germicidal lamps can also be used to disinfect and sterilize surfaces such as all contact surfaces in restaurants like food preparation countertops and serving stations. UV lamps can be used in refrigerators and walk-in freezers to prevent mold and mildew which can occur in damp spaces. 

You might see UV lights over a food buffet, a deli, or over fruits and vegetables to prevent foodborne illnesses. UV disinfection in restaurants adds a layer of protection over regular cleaning methods and helps to keep patrons and staff safe from foodborne illnesses and contaminated surfaces. 

UV disinfection of surfaces in restaurants provides many benefits such as:

• Prevents mildew and mold from developing in areas that generate moisture such as refrigerators and freezers

• Sanitizes surfaces that come into contact with food items

• Automatic UV sanitizers can clean restrooms when no one is in the room

• Effectively sterilizes non-food areas and equipment

• Effectively eliminates harmful foodborne pathogens like Salmonella, E. Coli and Norovirus

LightSources Offers High-Quality UV Sterilization Lamps

LightSources supports OEMs with a wide selection of high performance UV sterilization lamps including:

• Low pressure amalgam lamps

• Low pressure mercury lamps

• Medium pressure UV lamps

• Electronic ballasts

• Quartz sleeves

LightSources is dedicated to providing leading technology and lamp products with innovative solutions. We assist OEMs with custom designed lamps and prototypes, with an in-depth expertise of UV radiation. 

LightSources leads the lamp industry with high-tech lamps, proprietary technology and the leading lighting engineers in the industry. Our lamps are proven to outlast and outperform comparable lamps with long lasting germicidal effectiveness. Contact us to speak with an engineer about our UV germicidal solutions for restaurants and any environment.

Indoor Air Protection with UV Sterilization Lamps

Indoor air quality (IAQ) is an important consideration related to the comfort and health of building occupants. IAQ is affected by the quality of air in and around buildings with airborne contaminants existing both inside and outside. Controlling pollutants inside will help to reduce risk and improve the quality of indoor air for greater health and well-being. 

Airborne contaminants that exist both inside and outside of buildings include:

• Indoor pollutants:

• Wood burning stoves

• Tobacco smoke

• Cooking

• Ozone and chemical emissions from cleaning solvents, electronic equipment and human metabolic byproducts

• Outdoor pollutants:

• Agricultural and farming

• Vehicle exhaust

• Waste management facilities

• Chemical storage areas

• Processing equipment emissions

• Combustion byproducts during manufacturing

UV Air Purifier in HVAC Systems

HVAC systems can be a great source of air pollution if dirt accumulates in the ventilation system. Dirt combined with moisture and poor management of condensation can create serious air quality problems due to biological growth. This typically occurs due to problems with the cooling coil condensation, humidifiers and other sources of moisture, poor maintenance of filters and inadequate particle filtration.

Air contaminants may be either biological, gaseous or particulate. Methods of improving air quality include eliminating the source of emissions, capturing emissions at the source with exhaust, dilution, increased ventilation, filtration and air sterilization. Of these methods, the only one that actually eliminates biological contaminants is air sterilization. HEPA filters effectively filter particles as small as .3 microns, although they are ineffective against volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present on a molecular scale.

UV air sterilization is proven to eliminate VOCs and microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, mold and fungal spores and many other air contaminants. In-duct UV air purification systems installed near the cooling coils of HVAC units prevent microbial growth on cooling coils, thus preventing the spread of these contaminants throughout the home, office or building.

UV Lamps for Air Purification Systems

LightSources is a world leading supplier of UVC germicidal lamps, supporting OEMs globally with the widest selection of germicidal lamps and custom options available. LightSources and our partner company LightTech offer UV lamps for a wide range of applications including air purification systems, water and surface sterilization.

We offer the widest range UV germicidal lamps including:

• Amalgam Lamps

• Spot and pellet technology

• Proprietary amalgam technology

• Quartz Germicidal Lamps:

• Standard output lamps

• High output lamps

• U-lamps

• Germipak UV Cell lamps

• R.P.T. UVC lamps

• Subminiature UVC lamps

• All-in-one submersible UVC lamps

• Soft Glass Germicidal Lamps:

• Compact lamps

• Standard and HO lamps

• Medium Pressure UV Lamps

• Custom MP UV lamps

• High Pressure UV Lamps

• Custom HP UV lamps

• Quartz sleeves

• Shatter+ Protech technology

• Proprietary Bases and Sockets

Our R.P.T. UVC germicidal fixtures provide a retrofit system to fight mold and bacteria in HVAC systems. RPT UVC lamps can be installed in any existing or new HVAC unit to help fight respiratory diseases and allergies. 

LightSources manufactures high quality, high-tech UVC germicidal lamps for any sterilization application. We offer prototype and proprietary solutions. Contact us to learn more about our UVC germicidal solutions.