To conclude, this study showed that food colorants can successfully protect non-enveloped (i.e., vast majority ) bacteriophages from UV inactivation. This protection was specific only for brilliant blue FCF and allowed the simultaneous use of UV and phages to eliminate contaminations caused by Gram-negative bacteria (Figure ). subtilis are the most commonly used model species of bacteria. Our conclusions can generally pertain to other bacteria, including plant pathogens.