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Dining out in the COVID and post-COVID era can make some people nervous about all sorts of potential health risks. Wahoo’s Fish Taco in Los Alamitos takes these concerns seriously, and the business – which already boasts HEPA air purifiers in the dining area – has invested in technology called J.Protect that employs ultraviolet light to defend against both bacteria and viruses.
This J.Protect system by Israel-based company Juganu is the first one installed in the United States, though the technology is used elsewhere in the world already. J.Protect uses the power of ultraviolet A (UV-A) and, optionally, ultraviolet C (UV-C), to inactivate bacteria and viruses, up to and including the virus that causes COVID-19.
J.Protect employs LED technology to mix the UV-A and UV-C light with other wavelengths to mimic more natural lighting. The two smaller panels on the J.Protect provide a significant amount of illumination over a larger area compared to more common fluorescent lighting.
The standard UV-A, or “Allegro,” mode is safe to use with people present and works more gradually to sanitize the area. The more intense UV-C “Presto” mode – which Wahoo’s currently does not employ – can sanitize an area within minutes but requires the space to be unoccupied at the time. J.Protect comes equipped with a sensor that automatically deactivates the Presto mode if it detects motion in the area for maximum safety.
Wahoo’s franchise owner Tom Orbe laughingly called himself a bit of a germaphobe but emphasized the seriousness he places on the health and safety of their customers. Consultant Matthew Thomas helped connect Orbe with Juganu, which partnered with the City of Philadelphia in 2021 as part of their SmartBlockPHL real-time lighting and data project and now aims to spread their J.Protect lighting system across the United States.
Wahoo’s Fish Taco is located at 10961 Los Alamitos Blvd., just north of the intersection of Los Alamitos Blvd. and Katella Ave. in Los Alamitos.
