Ultraviolet Technology Could Help Prevent Salmonella-Related Illness

Last month a Salmonella outbreak caused several thousand illnesses and the recall of hundreds of millions of eggs from across the country.This latest report of a major foodborne illness outbreak demonstrates why these types of infections still cause 5,000 deaths, 325,000 hospitalizations and 76 million cases of illness each year.

A growing technology that has been helping the food industry to reduce and eliminate dangerous pathogens in the nations food supply is the use of ultraviolet disinfection. In fact, a recent article in the journal Food Pathogens and Disease demonstrated Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiations (UVGI) effectiveness in significantly reducing Listeria monocytogenes populations on food-processing conveyor belts. UVGI is frequently employed to destroy microorganisms that could otherwise cause illness and even death.

UltraViolet Devices, Inc. (UVDI), a leading provider of advanced ultraviolet (UV) disinfection products for air and surfaces, has designed products to specifically eliminate pathogens found in foods and food-processing environments. The company has designed solutions that utilize UVGI to efficiently disinfect air and surfaces contaminated with E. coli, Salmonella and other pathogens to keep the nations food supply safe, reduce medical costs and ultimately save lives.

By designing products for HVAC airstream disinfection, as well as surface and room disinfection, we can help prevent food-borne illnesses and keep people safe, says Paul Cochrane of UVDI. In addition, UV technology can increase refrigeration efficiency and reduce coil maintenance costs for companies that manufacture and process foods.  This gives them the added bonus of reduced production and energy costs while keeping the air and surfaces clean and free of pathogens.