Physical

RSS

UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) surveillance of food purchased at retail in 2023–2024 found 87 percent of samples to be compliant with food safety and authenticity standards. Undeclared allergens, adulteration, mislabeling, and other noncompliances were reported.

Mettler-Toledo Product Inspection has introduced two-, three-, and four-in-one inspection systems combining checkweighing, metal detection, X-ray, and vision inspection.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has launched a research project to develop methods for the detection of microplastic contamination, which will be used to assess the prevalence of and exposure levels to micro- and nanoplastics in Indian food.

WECO has introduced the new 360Tek optical sorter for blueberries, a small, high-capacity sorter that can inspect up to 8,000 pounds/3,600 kilograms of berries per hour.

Foreign material (FM) is a known food safety hazard that is starting to be seen as an expected and accepted risk. FM detection devices are abundant in production facilities, but a detection device should never be viewed as a control point; rather, it is an insurance policy against food adulteration.

Key Technology has introduced its new COMPASS® optical sorter for individually quick frozen foods, which identifies and removes foreign material and product defects.

FDA recently asserted that available scientific evidence “does not demonstrate that levels of microplastics or nanoplastics detected in foods pose a risk to human health.” However, the agency acknowledges the current science is limited by a lack of standard definitions or methods. 

Researchers recently conducted sampling and analysis of common vegetable oils from Italy and Spain, packaged in both glass and plastic bottles, to determine the presence of microplastics. Microplastics were found in every sample tested, regardless of packaging.

Eagle Product Inspection’s hygienically constructed, multi-application inspection system optimizes the bulk meat inspection process.

An EU project that monitors contaminants in important Mediterranean fishing regions/seafood species has discovered concerning levels of microplastics in the guts and stomachs of some fish.