Portable ultraviolet (UV) disinfection stations are a promising solution to help foodservice establishments mitigate the spread of foodborne pathogens, enabling users to quickly disinfect frequently handled items—such as cell phones, tablets, and shared personal protective equipment (PPE)—that harbor viruses and bacteria. Since regular handwashing cannot completely prevent the spread of pathogens caused by handling contaminated personal items, UV disinfection stations can fill the gap and provide an extra layer of protection.
The application of short-wavelength UV-C light, utilized by UV disinfection devices, has been shown to inactivate bacteria, mold spores, and yeast by interfering with the nucleic acids of microbes to prevent reproduction. UV light has the advantages of being effective, low-cost, and chemical-free. UV-C light has also been proven to be safe for use on most materials—such as nylon, cotton, leather, and polypropylene—when applied at levels required to inactivate microbiological contaminants.