X-Ray Inspection Vs. Metal Detection Technologies For Food Safety: What Should You Know?

By Kimberly Durkot

Detecting foreign objects in food is vital to food safety and quality. Each year, the food industry millions of pounds of food are recalled due to the presence of physical contaminants. These recalls not only incur significant costs but also pose potential harm to consumers. From shattered glass jars to stones, sharp plastic fragments, nuts, and bolts, a wide array of hazards can enter the production line. The key objective is to prevent these dangers from reaching store shelves.

Metal detection and X-ray inspection serve as primary defenses in identifying foreign contaminants in food products before they exit the processing facility. For food quality professionals, process engineers, and corporate food safety executives, one of the main considerations should be the type of product being processed. Meats, frozen foods, bulk nuts, foil-pouched drinks, glass jarred items, and pre-made dinners all possess distinct characteristics that dictate which technology is best suited for each application. Here, we outline two distinct food inspection technologies and how manufacturers can utilize them to circumvent expensive and potentially harmful hazards.