How often do you think about the work that goes into creating a pre-packaged sandwich or box of crackers?
Unless you work in the food industry…likely not often. That’s because the more familiar you are with something, the easier it is to overlook all the tiny details that go into its creation. When someone gets sick because of contaminated food, however…it’s immediately apparent where the blame goes. Food packaging distributors do best when combined with a careful human eye and the convenience of specialized machinery. This can be as simple as double-checking a bottle before putting it in a crate to something as complex as scanning for tiny metal particles that could otherwise slip by undetected.
How can food inspection systems be improved over the following years?
The State Of Food Safety Today
Without food safety regulations and the aid of updated food inspector tools more people would be getting sick just reaching for a bag of their favorite chips. Studies have shown every year one out of six Americans (or 48 million people) will get sick from foodborne diseases. That same span of time will see over 128,000 hospitalized and another 3,000 die from easily preventable causes. Not only do companies bear responsibility to keep their customers safe, they also owe a lot to the environment at large.
Basic Environmental Responsibility
Without a healthy environment people and businesses alike will be put in a bad spot to thrive. Scientists have estimated there could actually be more plastic than fish in the ocean in just a few decades, which is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to environmental responsibility. Thankfully, all it takes is a small effort to create a big impact. Packaging experts have recently estimated each pound of plastic can actually reduce food waste by nearly two pounds. Looked at differently, just over two pounds of plastic can deliver 1,300 ounces of a beverage. Compare that to aluminum, which requires three pounds, and steel, which requires eight.
Temperature Regulation
Temperature regulation is a major element of food inspector tools and something that can’t be ignored if customers are to remain safe. Cold temperatures are required to keep harmful bacteria from growing and multiplying before food or drink can be consumed. The common standard is to set refrigerators no higher than 40 degrees Fahrenheit and freezers at a basic zero degrees Fahrenheit. Vacuum sealers are a fantastic modern invention that preserve food up to three (and even five) times longer than food stored in plastic bags or containers.
Metal Detection
Poor temperature isn’t the only element that can cause food to go bad. Food metal detectors are one of the only tools we have to distinguish between a product that’s ready to go and a product that can make someone very ill. Your typical metal detector application with either a wet or conductive product can detect stainless steel at 2.5 to 3.5 mm. An x-ray can also detect 1.5 mm or less. This improves not just food safety, but keeps people healthy and maintains businesses that are up to speed on all aspects of success. What does this mean for the future of the food industry?
Creating A Safe, Eco-Friendly Food Industry For All
There doesn’t have to be an either-or situation when it comes to food. Food inspector tools make sure every single box, bottle or bag sent out is kept up to code, using a combination of x-rays, pouch filling machine resources and checkweighers to maintain a standard each and every time. Not only can safety be better recognized, but environmental support can be encouraged with a new approach to an old standard. Today it’s thought as much as 60% of the American population has access to a plastic recycling program in their area or in the comfort of their own home.
From spotting bones to making food last longer, the food inspector tools are a constant example of how small efforts leave the biggest impacts.