Plan Automation Technology Blog

Should I Use X-Ray Inspection for Blueberries?

Posted by Mat Bedard on Mon, Mar 14, 2016 @ 12:03 PM

Fotolia_64625103_Subscription_Monthly_M.jpgBlueberries are an incredibly popular fruit these days. Packed with both flavor and antioxidants, this "miracle fruit” is used in all kinds of snacks, desserts, and other sweet foodstuffs.

Part of the reason why these berries are considered a miracle food is that they’ve been linked to longer life and wellness because of their high concentration of antioxidants. According to nutrition-and-you.com, “these tiny, round blue-purple berries have long been attributed to the longevity and wellness of indigenous people living around subarctic regions in the Northern hemisphere.”

With many consumers becoming increasingly aware of the importance of watching what they eat, the demand for sweet treats that are good for you, like blueberries, is on the rise. In fact, a USDA report states that “the United States blueberry total production, at 5.67 million pounds in 2014, was up 5 percent from the 5.40 million pounds the previous year.”

However, as demand rises for tasty food that is good for you increases, so too does the demand for high-quality foodstuffs. Considering that consumers are looking to blueberries for both nutritional value and taste, making sure that your blueberry products are free from contaminants is a high priority.

But, how can you minimize your risk of contaminants in your blueberry products?

One step is to usex-ray product inspection technology for your blueberries.

Why Should You Use X-Ray for Blueberries?

Traditionally, x-ray inspection systems have had trouble working with products that have highly variable density profiles, such as packaged cereal and loose blueberries. For finding metallic contaminants, metal detectors have long been the preferred food safety tool.

However, things have changed in recent years. The introduction of material discrimination x-ray (MDX) technology have vastly improved the capabilities of x-ray detection in products that gave traditional single-emitter systems trouble.

MDX technology allows x-ray systems to detect the chemical composition of materials being passed through the x-ray machine. Using MDX detection, x-ray machines can now detect many more contaminants in blueberries than was previously possible such as:

  • Ferrous, Non-Ferrous and Stainless Steel Metals
  • Glass
  • Stones and Pebbles
  • Bones / Rodent
  • High Density Plastic and Rubber
  • Etc.

X-ray product inspection is very safe for crops such as blueberries and can be used on organic food without affecting the food’s organic status.

In short, the use of x-ray inspection on blueberries helps ensure safer, contaminant-free product, protecting consumers and your brand. That’s why you should use x-ray inspection for blueberries.

Please find below links to additional information on:

  1. White Paper: How to Detect Previously Undetectable Contaminants Using MDX
  2. Case Study: X-ray Inspection of Bulk Product Using MDX

 

Topics: X Ray Inspection for Food, X Ray Inspection Technology, Eagle Pi