Plan Automation Technology Blog

Consumers are driving changes in packaging, whether based on their interest in more sustainable options, demand for different sizes and formats to fit their needs or other reasons. Looking ahead, one can expect additional disruptions in traditional product development and packaging, which will impact all facets of production, including the inspection of items for safety and quality purposes. Advanced x-ray systems are keeping up with, and in some cases ahead of such changes, with features reflecting current market trends and future directions. 

Food quality management is a customer-driven system that encompasses food quality assurance and food quality control, among other elements. Manufacturers use quality management systems in the food industry to provide products that are as free as possible from flaws, to meet rigorous standards required by regulations, their own objectives, and that are made efficiently and consistently. Advanced x-ray inspection technologies are tools that can be utilized for both quality control and quality assurance purposes, to different ends but for the shared food quality management goals of producing goods to satisfy end user demands and protect a company’s brand. 

For any product inspection system, it’s important to spot and eliminate contaminants. However, there’s far more that goes into quality control than just preventing contamination—especially in meat production.

In recent years, the popularity of “organic” foods have grown immensely. Many consumers go out of their way to purchase organic foods at the market now. In fact, according to one time.com article, “Sales of the additive-free offerings surged 11.5% in 2013, to #35.1 billion.”

With demand for organic fruits, vegetables, and meat products on the rise, many food companies are looking for the ability to add the “organic” label to their products.

Because having the organic label can be a big boost for a product’s success, one question that Plan Automation’s customers often ask is “will x-ray inspection affect my product’s organic status?”

The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, or FSMA, is a large-scale reform of the USA’s food safety laws that was signed into law on January 4, 2011 that is designed to create new standards for food safety practices. As stated on the FDA’s website, the FSMA “gives [the] FDA new mandates, authorities and oversight tools aimed at providing solid assurances that those practices are being carried out by the food industry on a consistent, on-going basis.”

So, if the FSMA was signed into law four years ago, why are we talking about it today? There are a few reasons:

Integrating customized, fully detectable components along a production line is one of the most effective ways for manufacturers to ensure their product quality and safety. Compatible with any installed x-ray and metal detection systems, these components serve as food-safe, easily identifiable replacements for standard production facility tools.

In previous posts, we’ve discussed the benefits of metal detectors and of   x-ray inspection machines for quality assurance. Each type of product inspection equipment has its own benefits and drawbacks, and both technologies have continued to improve over time, with inspection machines becoming more capable.

In the Lanaudiére-Laurentides region of Central Quebec is the Boulangerie St-Donat bakery. This bakery makes roughly 12,000 pies and 3,000 cakes every day Monday through Friday, which are then distributed to grocery stores major chain retailers throughout Canada.

Sometimes, perception of the amount of product in a package is just as important as the actual weight content of the package. When a customer opens up a bag of, say, potato chips and sees that the package is less than half full, they’re not going to be pleased, even if the package has the right content weight.