Adequate lighting must be provided & shall be sufficient to allow safe handling & preparation of food.
Adequate lighting must be provided to ensure that all cleaning operations can be carried out effectively.
Lighting of 540 lux in food processing & 220 in general areas should be provided.
In areas where food is exposed all light fittings must be fitted with shatter proof diffusers and be easily cleanable.
Good lighting is essential in any food establishment for a number of reasons:
- Allows safe handling and preparation of food.
- Enable all areas to be readily seen and shows up those areas requiring cleaning.
- Food deliveries can be properly inspected.
- All foods can be effectively examined to ensure that they are not visibly contaminated with soil, insects or other pests.
- If a dangerous object, such as a thumb tack or a piece of glass, were accidentally introduced to the food area, good lighting will help ensuring that can be seen and removed.
- Labels on foods and cleaning materials are easier to read.
- Fewer accidents are likely to occur.
- The presence of rodents or other pests will be better noticed.
- A well-lit environment is conducive to better working and increased diligence.
It is preferable to have a good mixture of artificial and natural light. All artificial lighting should be enclosed in shatterproof diffusers, so that if a bulb or tube breaks, then fragments of glass cannot fall into food.