If x-ray inspection comes across as complicated, you’ll be pleased to know that it isn’t – and it doesn’t need to be! Hopefully after reading this back-to-basics article you’ll understand the fundamentals of this technology. The most important thing to know is that x-ray inspection is crucial in food safety because it helps verify that your products are safe without interrupting production. And, let’s face it, what more does a food manufacturer or brand owner want?
What is X-ray Inspection in Food Production?
X-ray inspection technology identifies unwanted physical contaminants in food products. We are all used to x-rays in a hospital, taking a picture of what’s inside your body, well in food production it is just the same. X-ray inspection makes sure your food does not contain any unwanted contaminants.
Why Should Food Manufacturers Install an X-ray System?
X-ray inspection systems are essential for finding and removing harmful physical contaminants like metal, glass, stones, bones and plastics, from food products. Retailers require these safety checks to protect their reputation and keep customers safe. Complying with government and industry food safety standards by integrating x-ray inspection technologies into production lines helps manufacturers avoid expensive recalls, fines and damage to their brand. Investing in x-ray technology also improves product quality, builds customer trust and gives manufacturers a competitive edge.
How Does X-ray Work?
By passing products through an x-ray system, a generator creates an x-ray beam that goes through the product before hitting a detector. This creates an x-ray image of what’s inside the product. Think about when you see an x-ray of your body at the hospital – it’s the same principle.
The x-ray image shows if there are any physical contaminants inside the product, and sends a signal to a reject device, removing the pack from production. This process helps to makes sure only uncontaminated and safe products leave the production facility.
What Types of Physical Contaminants Can be Detected by an X-ray?
X-ray systems can find many types of physical contaminants in food. A simple way to understand it is: if the contaminant can sink in water, the x-ray can detect it. For example, x-rays can spot tiny metal fragments from broken machinery, shards of glass from the filling process, or bones in processed meat. These systems help to make sure that harmful items are caught and removed, keeping food safe for consumers.
Can X-ray Do More Than Detect Physical Contaminants?
The answer is yes. X-ray systems can do more than just detect and reject physical contaminants. They can also check the integrity of the product. These checks include:
• Mass Measurement: Checking that each product has the correct weight. For example, it can check that each compartment in a ready meal tray contains the right amount of product.
• Component Count: Verifies that the correct number of items are in the package. For instance, it can confirm that a box of chocolates has all the pieces it should.
• Product Trapped in Seal: Checks the integrity of seals to make sure there is no product trapped inside. This is crucial for products like yogurt cups, where product within a seal can compromise the freshness.
• Fill Level: Checks that containers are filled to the correct level. For example, it can check that a tube of potato chips is stacked correctly.
• Completeness Checks: X-ray systems can count products and components within a product. For example, the correct number of apple pies in a box.
These integrity checks help make sure that products meet quality standards and customer expectations, enhancing overall product reliability and consumer trust.
What Type of Food Products Can X-ray Systems Inspect?
X-ray machines can inspect both unpackaged and packaged products. For unpackaged products, they can handle bulk items, pumped liquids and slurried products like pastes and soups. This allows for the removal of contaminants before the packaging stage, and before further value is added later in production.
X-ray systems can also inspect all types of packaged products. This includes cartons, plastic trays, pouches, metal cans, and glass jars. Different x-ray machines are designed to work with complex products, such as packs of mixed nuts where the materials differ or can overlap. This means that any bad product is found and removed from the production process automatically.
Where Should an X-ray System be Installed?
Food manufacturers need to perform a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) analysis. This process identifies the Critical Control Points (CCPs) where contamination could occur, and this is where an x-ray system should be installed.
An x-ray system can be installed at the start of the production line to inspect incoming raw materials. The benefit of this is that it detects contaminants early, preventing them from entering the production line, reducing waste and costs.
It can also be used in-line during the production process. The benefit here is that it means physical contaminants are detected and removed immediately, maintaining the integrity of the production line and preventing damage to machinery further downstream.
Most commonly, x-ray systems are used at the end of the production line. The benefit of this is that it acts as a final quality control check before the product leaves the facility, meaning that only safe and contaminant-free products reach consumers, in the best possible quality.
Why is X-ray Inspection Important?
X-ray inspection acts like a shield, detecting contaminated products before they leave the factory. This protects consumers from harmful physical contaminants. Without x-ray inspection, dangerous items could slip through unnoticed, risking people’s health and causing problems for brands.
It helps to prevent costly recalls and all associated costs by catching bad products before they enter the marketplace. Installing x-ray inspection solutions helps companies to comply with food safety rules set by the industry, government, and retailers, avoiding financial penalties for breaching these regulations. Retailers often require rigorous safety checks to protect their reputation and offer customer safety, making compliance with these standards essential for suppliers.
Investing in x-ray technology enhances product quality, builds customer trust and gives manufacturers a competitive edge in the market.
Key Takeaway
X-ray inspection is crucial for food manufacturers as it can help avoid costly recalls and protect brand reputation by facilitating the utmost in food safety. With food safety compliance and regulations being critical for manufacturers, x-ray technology keeps food safe, boosts productivity and helps to keep manufacturers competitive.
For more information: www.mt.com/xray-inspection-pr
About the Author: Mike Pipe, Head of Global Sales and Product Management, Mettler-Toledo Safeline X-ray