a breath guard canopy for a serving unit of the type in which individuals move trays along one or both sides of the serving unit and receive food stuffs therefrom either by self - service or by being served . a breath guard , or canopy , in the form of at least one sheet of transparent material is supported on the unit in such a position as to be interposed between individuals moving along the unit and food stuffs contained in the unit , thereby protecting the food stuffs from the possibility of contamination . an illumination unit may be incorporated in the canopy to illuminate such foodstuff .