For all kinds of food processing industries, food safety is a primary concern. Any contamination can be hazardous for consumers, which is why food inspection is a very important stage of the production process. Some of the most commonly found contaminants are metallic and originate in the machinery that is used in the production process. Food metal detectors can be customized for each operation and can be used on packaged products as well. Food safety is important not only for customer protection, but also compliance, productivity and brand reliability.
Food safety is a primary concern
For the food processing industry, food safety is an essential part of the process of getting the product to the consumer. Any contaminants, whether biological or metallic, can be hazardous for the consumer. Food safety begins with careful inspections before the product even leaves the processing unit. In fact, food inspections can be carried out at every stage of the operations.
Metallic contaminants in food originate from the equipment used to process food. It can be of three kinds, namely ferrous, non-ferrous and stainless steel. Food inspection systems are used to ensure compliance with food safety standards like GFSI, BRC and IFS. They must also be in line with retailers? code of practice, local and federal legislation and industry guidance.
Metal detection in food processing
Food metal detectors can ensure the safety of food products.They can be used for a whole range of products, bakery to milk and dairy to fish, meat and poultry as well as fruits and vegetables. The products can be packaged or unpackaged, or even bulk items. Packaged meals and foil wrapped products can also be inspected by special ferrous-in-foil food metal detectors.
The ease with which metallic contaminants can be detected depends on their conductivity and magnetic permeability. Stainless steel particles can be the most difficult to detect, especially when they are found in a product that is wet or has a high salt content. X Ray food inspection can be used for wet or conductive products. It can detect stainless steel particles as small as 2.5-3.5 mm and even 1.5 mm or less. X rays can also be used to detect other containments, like glass, calcified bone, ceramics and stone.
How they work
Metal detectors can be used at points along the processing as well as the end of the line, to ensure that any contaminants are detected and removed. There are several kinds of metal detection systems, including search heads, conveyor based systems, pipelines for liquid or wet products that are pumped, and gravity feed or vertical fall systems.
In setting up metal detection system, reliability, stability and sensitivity are important considerations. The system should also be compatible with cleaning systems.
Food metal detectors are used to ensure that food products are in full compliance with all rules and regulations. These can be installed at different points in the production process, to ensure that all contaminants are removed. X Ray inspections can be used to detect even very small non-ferrous particles, including stone, bone and ceramic. An effective food inspection system promotes consumer safety as well as brand reliability.
