Metal Contaminant Detection is one of the major exercises in the food processing industry aimed at inculcating food safety. It also ensures that the processed food complies with the national and international food safety standards. There is an increasing incidence of foodborne disease due to contamination in packaged food. Hence, the food processing companies across the world have started to invest and employ these systems to ensure the highest level of food safety. This trend in food safety has expanded the market of food safety detection machinery manufacturing companies. In this article, we will analyze the developments in the food contaminant sector across the globe.
Metal Contaminant Detection: Key Developments And Innovations
Food processing Industries employ several measures to detect contaminants in the processed food. It includes visual inspection, metal detectors, X-ray systems, and advanced analytical techniques. These advanced analytical techniques include chromatography, spectroscopy, the use of microbial biosensors, and food sensors in processed food.
Metal Detection System
The food processing industries widely use these systems to detect metal contaminants in the processed food. Metal fragments sometimes enter food during the manufacturing process from broken machinery or the accidental introduction of foreign objects. There are various types of metal detectors for the food system. These include conveyor-based, pipeline, and gravity-fall systems. There are various new developments in the metal detection systems. These are:
Multi-Spectrum Technology
CEIA is at the forefront of technological advancements in metal detection. The company has introduced the world’s only multi-spectrum technology. This technology aims to enhance detection capabilities by simultaneously using multiple frequencies. The CEIA THS/MS21 has unique detection capabilities and extreme sensitivity to magnetic, non-magnetic, and even 316 stainless steel metal contaminants. Furthermore, the THS/MS21 is suitable for nearly all variations of food and nutraceutical product characteristics.
Variable Frequency Technology
This technology has been developed by Loma Systems. The company launched its new IQ4M Metal Detector product inspection system in North America. The IQ4M Metal Detector combines Loma’s patented Variable Frequency technology with advanced multi-spectrum detection. The main purpose of this product is to effectively find contaminants in packaged meat and poultry, bakery items, convenience food, and metallized film products used in the snack and confectionery industries.
Dynamic Data Screen+ (DDS+) Technology
This technology improves signal analysis. The system has the ability for applications to dynamically discover and communicate with each other without needing to know the specific endpoints at compile time. The metal detection systems across the food processing industries are currently inculcating this system.
Quick Recovery Technology
These technologies are primarily focused on reducing downtime. It also facilitates faster product switching and minimizes false rejects. Overall, these systems aim to strengthen security and traceability.
Metal Contaminant Detection: Market Dynamics and Current Trends
According to Future Market Insights, the global food metal detector market size will grow from USD 5,300.0 Million in 2023 to USD 8,152.3 Million by 2033. The industry will grow at 4.4% CAGR throughout the forecast period (2023 to 2033).
Key Drivers
Improving Consumer Protection
There has been a rising focus on improving consumer protection across the globe. It is a key factor that drives the sales of food metal detectors in the global market.
Foodborne Diseases
The increasing incidence of foodborne diseases coupled with the growing need for improving consumer protection is expected to boost the food metal detector market during the forecast period. As per the World Health Organization (WHO), each year, unsafe food causes 600 million cases of foodborne diseases and 420000 deaths across the world. This is compelling food manufacturers to employ tools like food metal detectors in their facilities.
Regulatory Enforcements
Various countries across the globe have enforced stringent food regulations, across countries in the USA, China, Germany, and the UK. It will generate high demand for food metal detectors during the forecast period.
Packaged Food Consumption
There has been an increasing production and consumption of packaged foods across the world due to changing lifestyles, increasing disposable incomes, and rapid urbanization will boost sales of food metal detectors.
Metal Contaminant Detection: Global Food Safety Regulatory Mechanism
FDA Regulations
Ingestion of metal fragments present in food can cause various types of injuries. It may include dental damage, laceration of the mouth or throat, or laceration or perforation of the intestine. The Health Hazard Evaluation Board, which works under the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has supported regulatory action against products with metal fragments 0.3 inch (7 mm) to 1 inch (25 mm) in length.
Specific Regulations
The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the FFD&C Act) prohibits interstate commerce of adulterated foods (21 U.S.C. 331). Under this Act, a food containing foreign objects is considered adulterated (21 U.S.C. 342).
Criteria For Metal Contaminants
According to the FDA, foreign objects that are less than 0.3 inch (7 mm) may cause trauma or serious injury to persons in special risk groups. This group includes infants, surgery patients, and the elderly. During the food processing, metal-to-metal contact (e.g., mechanical cutting or blending operations and can openers) and equipment with metal parts can break loose and may enter the food during processing. The FDA also provides certain sets of regulations to control metal inclusion.
FSSAI
In India, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is the nodal authority to ensure food safety. The Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Regulations, 2011 regulate the metal contaminants in the food system. It addresses the presence of metal contaminants and sets limits for lead, cadmium, copper, iron, and zinc.
- The agency sets the limits of various metals for different food products, such as fish, leafy vegetables, and other food items.
- It also regulates the food contact materials to ensure that they do not contaminate the food with excessive levels of metal.
Challenges Faced By Metal Contaminant Detection Systems
False Signals
Different machines and devices emit radio waves, electromagnetic fields, or high vibration. It may cause interference and false signals. High current load equipment running on the same power source as metal detectors may also cause false rejections by creating spikes in voltage. It may also cause false rejections by creating spikes in voltage.
Magnetic Field Interference
The interference of electromagnetic interference (EMI) can impact the performance of the metal detectors in the food systems. These are often termed as noises that impact the performance of the metal detectors as large.
Way Forward
The metal detection system is gaining traction in the food processing industry amid increasing incidence of food borne diseases across the world. This has led to increasing consumer’s awareness. Further, the excessive use of heavy machinery in food processing, packaging and other related products has led to inclusion of the broken metal parts in the processed food. Hence, the food processing industries need to comply with stricter regulations by food regulatory bodies globally. It has led to the development and evolution of the metal detection systems across the globe.