The food processing industry in Australia is one of the most stringently monitored sectors in the country when it comes to verifying product quality and safety prior to market. However, food recalls still occur on a regular basis.
According to a recent report by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), more than 600 food recalls due to some form of contamination have occurred in Australia over the past 10 years. In 2016 alone, there were 72 cases, with the most common classifications being undeclared allergen (33), microbial contamination (20), foreign matter (7) and biotoxin (6).
The rate of instances where foreign matter is involved has come down somewhat.
Reducing foreign matter contamination
While food recalls due to allergens or microbial contamination appear to be occurring more frequently in Australia, the rate of instances where foreign matter is involved has come down somewhat.
Between 2007 and 2016, there were 112 recalls due to foreign matter, the most common types of which were attributed to metal (33 per cent), plastic (30 per cent), glass (24 per cent) and rubber (5 per cent). The seven cases that occurred in 2016 were below the 10-year historical average of 11.2.
Accurate contaminant detection is critical
Ensuring the quality of product shipments before they leave the factory is arguably the most important aspect of the food industry. The accuracy of detection equipment is vital for achieving this goal and for giving manufacturers peace of mind when it comes to knowing their food products are safe for human consumption.
The potential consequences of even just one contaminated batch ending up on shop shelves can cripple a brand's reputation and place serious financial pressures on the business.
The high level of accuracy that X-ray machines provide in detecting foreign objects means that cases of such contamination have fallen and are now rare. Attempts to improving the quality of such technology is now focused on how X-ray machines can pick up other product flaws such as packaging defects or fill level issues.
Reach out to us today
SRO Technology offers X-ray machines for the food industry that meet the highest standards of accuracy. Applying the principles of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), our systems will detect and identify any hazards within your plant before they become serious problems. Please get in touch with the team at SRO Technology today to find out more.
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