In this interview, AZoM speaks with Thermo Fisher Scientific to discuss their food testing and food safety solutions for this vital industry.
Can you provide us with an overview of Thermo Fisher Scientific's experience and expertise in the food safety testing industry?
Thermo Fisher Scientific is a leading global provider of scientific products and services, including a comprehensive portfolio for the food testing industry. With decades of experience, Thermo Fisher has established itself as a trusted partner to ensure food safety, quality and compliance.
We offer a wide range of advanced technologies specifically designed for food inspection, including state-of-the-art metal detection systems, X-ray inspection systems and checkweighers. These technologies are carefully engineered to detect and remove foreign objects such as metallic contaminants, glass fragments and other impurities, minimizing the risk of product recalls and ensuring consumer safety.
How do Thermo Fisher testing systems identify contaminants such as metal and glass in food and beverages?
Thermo Fisher inspection systems use advanced technologies such as X-ray scanning and metal detection to identify contaminants in food and beverages, including metal and glass. X-ray inspection systems use high-energy radiation to shoot materials at them to create an image of the product and detect foreign objects based on their density and composition. These systems can detect contaminants regardless of their shape, size or location within the product.
Metal detection systems, on the other hand, use electromagnetic fields to identify the presence of metallic contaminants. They employ highly sensitive detectors that can detect even minute amounts of metallic particles in food and beverages. These systems are designed to identify many different types of metals, including ferrous, non-ferrous, and stainless steel contaminants.
These inspection systems are equipped with advanced algorithms and software that analyze the data collected and provide real-time feedback to operators, allowing them to quickly and accurately identify contaminants to ensure the safety and quality of food and beverages.
How easily can Thermo Fisher's product inspection solutions be integrated into existing food processing and packaging lines?
In a word, it's very simple. Thermo Fisher product inspection solutions are designed to be integrated into existing food processing and packaging lines. Flexible configurations and interfaces allow for seamless integration within a variety of production line setups. Thermo Fisher offers a variety of options that can be integrated at different stages of the production process, including metal detectors, X-ray inspection systems and checkweighers. What's more, we offer comprehensive service and support expertise to assist with the integration process, minimizing the impact on existing operations.
How can X-ray inspection help packaged food manufacturers? What are the challenges of using these methods?
X-ray inspection allows manufacturers to detect foreign objects such as metal, glass, and plastic in food products to ensure product safety and quality. This early detection gives manufacturers the opportunity to remove the foreign object, preventing potential hazards and protecting consumers from harm.
Additionally, X-ray inspection helps check the integrity of the package itself, detecting defects or anomalies in the packaging material, such as leaks or improper sealing, that could compromise the freshness or quality of the product.
X-ray inspection technology enables manufacturers to perform a variety of quality control checks, including measuring product fill levels, detecting product shortages or deformations, identifying discrepancies in product weight, etc. These capabilities help manufacturers maintain product consistency and comply with regulatory standards.
It is important to keep in mind that using X-ray inspection methods presents several challenges. One of the challenges is the potential for false positive or false negative inspection results. X-ray inspection systems must be properly calibrated and set up to provide accurate and consistent detection. Regular maintenance and adjustments are required to ensure the reliability of the inspection equipment.
Another challenge is cost: X-ray inspection systems are relatively expensive to install and maintain, which can be a challenge for smaller manufacturers on a tight budget, but the benefits of ensuring product safety, quality and regulatory compliance often outweigh the initial investment cost.
Overall, despite any challenges, X-ray inspection remains a valuable tool for packaged food manufacturers to enhance their product safety and quality control processes.
What is a checkwager and why is it important to the food safety inspection process?
A checkweigher is a system used to check the weight of packaged products. They are usually installed at the end of a production line, but may also be installed at points along the process. In the food industry they are used to measure the weight of products to ensure they meet prescribed specifications and comply with legal requirements.
Checkweighers play a vital role in the food safety inspection process for several reasons. Checkweighers help maintain product quality and consistency by ensuring each item meets its prescribed weight, which is important for both consumer satisfaction and brand reputation.
Checkweighers help food producers comply with legal requirements and industry standards. Many countries have regulations in place that stipulate minimum and maximum weights for certain foods. Checkweighers provide a reliable means of verifying compliance and preventing potential fines and recalls.
Can you briefly explain “Multiscan Technology” and the key features and benefits of the Thermo Scientific Sentinel Multiscan metal detector?
The Thermo Scientific™ Sentinel™ Multiscan Metal Detector utilizes revolutionary new technology to overcome the limitations of fixed single or dual frequency metal detectors that can miss metallic contaminants hidden in the product's own signal. Multiscan technology scans up to five user-selectable frequency combinations from 50-1000 kHz. It's like having five metal detectors in one.
The Sentinel is designed to overcome the challenges posed by complex products, such as those with high conductivity or varying moisture levels. Several features contribute to the instrument's effectiveness:
• Auto-learning: The system quickly establishes optimal settings, improving operational efficiency.
• Color Touchscreen: A bright, washable color touchscreen combined with easy-to-use software reduces training and simplifies operation.
• Noise Scanning: Avoid frequencies susceptible to electromagnetic interference from the factory environment, optimizing performance and improving product safety.
• XR Signal Processing Software: Software algorithms are designed to improve metal detector performance in challenging applications with high production impact.
When potential customers are considering which food safety product testing system would be best to implement, how can Thermo Fisher Scientific support them in the decision-making process?
Thermo Fisher Scientific personnel will work closely with you to determine the appropriate product testing methodology for your specific application. It is helpful to understand the following questions about the process:
• What types of foods are tested?
• What is the nature of the contaminants expected?
• If so, what type of packaging materials are used?
Product testing is a complimentary service we offer to help us determine the best testing solution and provide you with an accurate performance quote.
Metal detection and X-ray inspection often have complementary strengths, so it's often beneficial to employ both technologies. For example, you can combine metal detection equipment to scan your raw materials with an X-ray inspection system to ensure the integrity of your final product. Thermo Fisher experts can evaluate your situation and advise you on which technology (or combination of technologies) is best suited for your application.
Why choose Thermo Fisher for your food safety product testing?
For more than 65 years, Thermo Fisher Scientific product inspection systems have helped companies protect the safety and quality of packaged and unpackaged products by providing tailored analytical solutions. Our checkweighers offer consistent accuracy and
From our metal detectors to the detection performance of our X-ray systems, our solutions have proven effective time and time again.
How will Thermo Fisher's contributions and innovations shape the future of food safety product testing?
Thermo Scientific food inspection systems cover every step of the food production process, before and after final packaging. From the sensitivity of our metal detectors to the detection performance of our x-ray systems to the consistent accuracy of our checkweighers, we are committed to helping food manufacturers, processors and packagers eliminate errors and ensure the highest quality and safety standards of their products. We apply technological innovations that reliably enhance operational performance and improve product quality. Our portfolio of products and services delivers the precision, reliability and performance that helps drive revenue and protect brand reputation. We are committed to continuous innovation and development of cutting-edge technologies to meet the evolving needs of manufacturers to detect foreign object contamination within food products.
About Kimberly Durcott
Kim joined Thermo Fisher Scientific as Field Marketing Manager for the Product Testing business in November 2021. Working across multiple functions, Kim strives to help customers accelerate production, improve consumer safety and protect their brands.
This information has been obtained, verified and adapted from materials provided by Thermo Fisher Scientific – Production Process & Analytics.
For more information on this source, please visit Thermo Fisher Scientific – Production Process & Analytics.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are those of the interviewees and do not necessarily represent those of AZoM.com Limited (T/A) AZoNetwork, the owner and operator of this website. This disclaimer forms part of the terms and conditions of use for this website.
