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Retail display case lighting applications

Refrigerated Dairy Products in Supermarket Display Cases

Light and heat accelerate the rate of lipid oxidation Refrigerated dairy products are very sensitive to the UV and visible spectrum radiation commonly emitted by supermarket dairy merchandiser lighting.

Within a few hours of exposure to fluorescent display case lighting, milkfats turn rancid in a photochemical reaction called lipid oxidation, which causes dairy products to develop off-flavors and destroys several vitamins, lowering the nutritional value of the dairy product.

REFRIGERATED MILK DISPLAYS IN SUPERMARKET DAIRY CABINETS
Milk soon develops two types of off-flavors when exposed to 4 minutes of sunlight, or 4 hours of supermarket fluorescent light. Many nutrients are lost in this process, including riboflavin and Vitamin D. <more...>

COMMERCIAL ICE CREAM DISPLAY LIGHTING IN FREEZER MERCHANDISERS
UV radiation penetrates through cold temperatures to induce lipid oxidation, rancidity, and off-flavors, and to melt the surface of ice cream, forming ice crystals when the separated water refreezes. <more...>

REFRIGERATED CHEESE DISPLAYS IN GROCERY STORE SHOWCASES
Mold inhibitors degrade when exposed to UV radiation. Orange and yellow cheeses fade when exposed to light, while unpackaged cheese such as bulk feta can become discolored and develop off-flavors from lipid oxidation. <more...>

For dairy science references and excerpts click here.

Promolux True Color Definition Lamps

Promolux Safe Spectrum balanced full spectrum lamps emit lower levels of heat and ultraviolet radiation than regular supermarket fluorescent lamps, thus reducing the rate of damaging chemical reactions in milk and dairy products. Compared to other fluorescent lighting, Promolux lamps emit 86% lower UV B radiation, a shorter wavelength that penetrates and causes heating, and 52% lower UV A radiation, a longer wavelength that tends to affect surfaces.

Because Promolux lamps are designed for true color definition, they have a more balanced visible spectrum than other fluorescent lamps. The yellow and green wavelengths that are predominant in regular fluorescent lighting are the most damaging wavelengths in the visible spectrum. Promolux lamps emit a more balanced range of wavelengths, including more of the red and blue wavelengths and more moderate levels of the yellow and green wavelengths. It is impossible to create a natural light that does not have any yellow or green wavelengths, so light sources will always be damaging to some extent.

However, since Promolux lamps minimize the emission of damaging visible spectrum and UV wavelengths, using Promolux lamps will reduce shrinkage by 30 to 50 percent compared to the shrinkage caused by standard dairy display case lights. These savings will vary depending upon the duration of light exposure, which can vary from day to day and from hour to hour; the type of packaging; the fat content; and how the dairy product has been processed.

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