A method of sanitizing a food article includes the steps: orienting a light-diffusing optical fiber in proximity to a food article； and directing ultraviolet light from an ultraviolet light source through a first end of the light-diffusing optical fiber. The food article is arranged on a substrate. The fiber comprises a glass composition and a plurality of scattering sites. The method also includes the steps: scattering the ultraviolet light off of the plurality of scattering sites and out of the fiber at about 0.1 dB/m to about 20 dB/m as scattered ultraviolet light； and sanitizing the food article with the scattered ultraviolet light.
