When it comes to foreign material detection in the food engineering space, different processes require different detection methods/equipment. There are several types of systems that can help detect foreign material in a food process, among which are metal detectors, X-ray units and magnets.
To understand what method is suitable for a particular process, the first step is to review the facility’s written foreign material control program and understand how it is being executed. According to Bonnie Biegel, director of quality assurance, Americas, at AIB international, “A strong foreign material control program that adequately assesses risks, puts preventive controls in place to mitigate those risks, and is executed correctly by a trained team will minimize physical contaminants in products and reduce the risk of costly product recalls.”