Shipping contamination-free food products to the public has always been business-critical, but today’s social-media landscape leaves virtually no room for error. A wider variety of products, along with a wide variety of packaging options, have increased the need for more flexible inspection and detection equipment. The good news: Manufacturers are answering the call with X-ray, metal detection, checkweighing and vision systems that help processors ensure food safety.
“New technology such as multiscan metal detection, which allows food processors to select up to five frequencies and identify contaminants that are up to 50 percent smaller, can overcome the limitations of previous solutions and improve food safety. This technology also is flexible, so it can change over time as the products being inspected evolve,” says Bob Ries, lead product manager, metal detection and X-ray inspection, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA.