Many people throughout the world continue to focus on determining which companies make a a positive social and environmental impact and which fall short. Over half, or 52%, of the global population decides which products to buy based on a brand’s packaging. Food quality is, of course, a major concern; so, too, is making sure that this quality is preserved by its packaging. Other concerns include determining whether or not the packaging is wasteful or otherwise harmful to the environment.
X-Ray Machines for Food Inspection
When food products are inspected for metal contaminants, X-ray machines for food inspection are more effective than typical metal detectors. When checking for stainless steel in wet or conductive products, a typical metal detector can pinpoint particles that are from 2.5 to 3.5 millimeters. X-ray machines for food inspection, however, can detect particles that are 1.5 millimeters or less. As a result, this can improve food safety and provide brand protection.
In addition to stainless steel, a food metal detector is able to sense both ferrous and non-ferrous metallic contaminants. Ferrous contaminants are those that contain iron. Food products obviously need to be free of these and other types of contaminants.
Plastic Food Packaging Machines
When a food product isn’t effectively packaged, its shelf life is greatly reduced. Vacuum sealed products will last longer than those that are packaged and stored in plastic containers or bags. When food is packaged by vacuum sealers, for instance, it can last 3 to 5 times longer than its counterparts.
According to packaging experts, food waste can be reduced by up to 1.7 pounds for every pound of plastic packaging that is used. Given this, it makes sense to use vacuum-sealing and pouch filling machines rather than other packaging methods. Furthermore, these methods prevent excess packaging materials from ending up in the country’s landfills.
Reducing Beverage Container Waste
Waste can also also be reduced by using plastic beverage containers. The weight of soft drink containers has actually decreased 31 grams since 1977. At that time, these containers weighed in at 68 grams. Currently, these bottles just weigh 47 grams. In 2006 alone, this weight reduction was responsible for saving over 180 million pounds of 2-liter bottles.
It’s interesting to note that 1,300 ounces, or approximately 10 gallons, of beverages can be contained in 2 pounds of plastic. In order to contain the same amount of fluids, such as juice, soda, and water, you would need the following number of pounds in these other types of containers:
- Aluminum: 3 pounds
- Steel: 8 pounds
- Glass: 40 pounds
Reducing Food-Borne Diseases
Food-borne diseases cause people in the United States a great deal of pain and suffering. On an annual basis, data indicates that these diseases impact Americans in the following ways:
- 48 million become sick
- 128,000 need to be hospitalized
- 3,000 die
In order to prevent harmful bacteria from growing and multiplying, specific cold temperatures are recommended. Refrigerators, for example, should be set at a maximum of 40 degrees Fahrenheit, while freezers should be set at 0 degrees Fahrenheit.
Protecting Your Customers and Your Brand
When you’re in the food business, you want to provide a quality product to your customers. You also want to adhere to food safety requirements and recommendations as well as reduce packaging waste. These and other measures are what will keep customers reaching for your brand rather than a competitor’s.
