How many foot candles of light should be present in food preparation areas?

In food preparation areas, it is essential to have adequate lighting to ensure safety and efficiency during food handling and preparation tasks. The standard recommendation is to maintain a level of 50 foot candles. This level of illumination provides sufficient visibility for employees to effectively see and handle food items, read labels, and follow recipes without straining their eyesight.

Proper lighting helps in preventing accidents in the kitchen by allowing staff to clearly identify potential hazards such as spills, sharp objects, and other obstacles that could lead to injuries. Additionally, good lighting ensures that food quality is monitored effectively, allowing staff to spot any signs of spoilage or contamination.

While options suggesting lower foot candle levels would not provide adequate visibility for safe food preparation, higher levels, such as the option mentioning 100 foot candles, may not be necessary and could even create glare, making it difficult for employees to see clearly. Therefore, the recommendation of 50 foot candles strikes an ideal balance by ensuring that food preparation areas are safely illuminated for the necessary tasks.