With IFFA2025 now behind us, it is a great time to reflect on the crucial role food safety plays in the protein processing industry. Whether handling meat, poultry, fish, or plant-based alternatives, maintaining rigorous hygiene standards is key to preventing contamination. 

From raw ingredients to final packaging, every stage of the process must be equipped to handle the delicate nature of proteins, molecules that are not only sensitive to environmental changes but are also susceptible to structural misfolding and unwanted molecular interactions.

What Makes Proteins so Vulnerable? 

Proteins can degrade or misfold due to variations in pH, shifts in temperature, or interactions with other substances during production. If these factors are not properly managed, they can compromise the product’s structure, potentially leading to quality defects or, even more critically, foodborne illnesses. To mitigate these risks, protein manufacturers are investing in hygienic design, advanced automation, and components engineered to withstand the harsh realities of modern processing environments.

Megadyne’s Food-Grade Timing Belts 

Megadyne supports food safety in protein processing with its food-contact (FC) approved belts and X-ray and metal detectable belting solutions, engineered to perform in demanding environments and to help detect foreign bodies before products reach the market.

• MEGAPOWER FC: The power transmission backbone built for hygiene

Designed for power transmission and synchronous conveying applications within the food processing and packaging industry, MEGAPOWER FC belts offer robust performance in the oily, humid, and wet environments common in protein processing. 

Featuring stainless steel cords and a food contact compliant blue polyurethane, these belts combine good chemical and corrosion resistance with durability under aggressive washdown procedures—all while ensuring consistent performance and compliance with international food safety regulations.

• MEGALINEAR FC: The belt engineered for the food industry

Tailored specifically for food-contact applications, the MEGALINEAR FC range is manufactured to meet FDA and European food regulations (EU 1935/2004, EU 10/2011, EU 174/2015). 

Available in T5 and T10 pitches without gaps between teeth, these belts provide excellent chemical resistance in both dry and wet conditions. A variety of backing profiles makes them highly adaptable across applications in meat, poultry, and plant-based protein production.

• Megadyne’s XMD Technology: Designed for proactive contamination prevention 

One of the most serious risks in food production is the presence of foreign bodies. A single undetected belt fragment can jeopardize consumer safety, trigger recalls, and damage brand reputation and trust. 

To address this, Megadyne developed X-ray and metal detectable belts, specifically designed for detectability; any foreign body resulting from broken belt parts can be filtered out before it is too late. 

Since all of the products in the MEGALINEAR XMD and MEGAFLEX XMD range are manufactured using a special compound, any belt or cleat fragments can be spotted by metal and X-ray metal detectors, enabling their swift removal from the processing line before they slip through to reach the market. 

This feature complements other food-safe design elements, such as sealed edges and the use of blue for visual contrast, providing an added layer of protection within any HACCP plan.

Food Safety, First and Foremost

In a sector under constant pressure to meet rising safety standards while increasing throughput, Megadyne’s food-grade solutions offer peace of mind. Combining compliance, hygiene, and smart prevention, they help protein processors stay one step ahead.

Because, after all, when it comes to food safety, there is no room for compromise.