UV Light for Disinfection: 7 Food Categories It is Used For!

Several industries use UV light for the disinfection of materials and products. But no other industry uses it as much as the Food and Beverage industry does. 

Since food and beverages are consumed by people around the world, they must be sterilized to ensure quality and safety. However, unlike other industries that can use other methods of sterilization, the food and beverage industry can only use UV light for disinfection.

UV Light for Disinfection of Food Has Been Proven to Be Safe 

Several federal agencies have studied the impact of using UV light for disinfection of food items. The United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) continually studied the effect of using UV light for disinfection of food products for 30 years. And they found UV light to be the best source to sterilize any food product. 

In addition to the USFDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the World Health Organization (WHO) have also found UV light safe for food disinfection. 

UV Light for Disinfection of These Following Food Categories 

Since it has been proven safe to use UV light for disinfection for food and beverages, here are the food categories it is used the most. 

Dairy 

Fresh products such as cheese, milk, and yogurt are sterilized using UV light before packaging them. UV light for disinfection is used in combination with pasteurization which is a critical step in the sterilization of dairy products. 

UV light for disinfection and pasteurization ensure the dairy products are free from any bacterial and viral contamination. 

Poultry, Meat, and Fish 

Since meat products are prone to bacterial and fungal growth, it is detrimental for meat industry to use UV light for disinfection before further processing of meat. 

UV light for disinfection is used when the meat is passing through the conveyor belts. It is also used to surface sterilize the packaging materials and containers used for final packaging. 

Liquid Sugar and its Containers 

Several food industries make use of liquid sugar and other sweeteners during the production of food products. These raw materials must be sterilized before use. UV light is used to disinfect these raw materials along with the containers it is stored in. 

This allows food industries to follow strict food hygiene and quality regulations and standards. 

Beverages 

Water and finished beverage products are sterilized using UV light. This ensures the beverage product is free from any bacteria, viral particles and other contaminants. It also helps increase the shelf life of beverages after is finally packaged until it reaches your kitchen shelf and even further. Along with the product, UV light is used to sterilize the bottles and caps used to package the beverage. 

Baking 

Baking industries use UV light for disinfection to ensure there are no insects or contaminants in baking flour and other powder ingredients used during production. 

UV light is also used to sterilize any mold spores in the raw materials and products. Mold spores are one of the major reasons the baking industry faces huge losses along with food wastage. Hence, a UV light for disinfection can help reduce losses and food wastage in the long run. 

Frozen Foods 

Frozen foods have made life easy for several people around the world. These foods are cheap and help put food on the table within a smaller budget. However, the shelf life of frozen foods is a major concern. 

UV light is highly helpful in decontaminating the food and packaging materials before it is frozen, packaged and transported. This helps increase the shelf-life and reduce the chances of contamination over time. 

Fruits and Vegetables 

Vegetables and fruits are prone to spoilage and insect infestation. UV light can be used for disinfecting fruits and vegetables before they are packaged. This increases their shelf life and reduces wastage.

Bottom Line 

If you are working in the food and beverage industry or want to install UV light for disinfection, you must collaborate with the right company offering high-quality UV lamps. 

You can get in touch with us at Light Spectrum Enterprises, Inc. We have been an industry leader for more than 20 years and bring to you a wide range of UV lamps for residential, commercial, and industrial purposes. You can use UV lamps for surface, water, and air sterilization in your house and industrial spaces. 

Contact us now to know more.