Should a Food Packaging Plant Install a Metal Detector?
If you believe your existing control for metal is enough, then you have to convince your customer by using your system and documents like HACCP, GMP etc.
If you are not able to convince them, then you need to think of a metal detection system.
The BRC/IOP packaging standard does not explicitly require a metal detector to control metal foreign bodies. What the standard says is that you must assess the hazard and effectively (and efficiently) control the risk. To me ‘efficiently’ includes cost.
Typical controls would include an effective cleaning (sanitation) program, an effective preventive maintenance system for your building infrastructure and machines so that no bits are at risk of dropping off, in addition an effective and documented ‘hand over’ to production following maintenance, so that everything is clean and clear of foreign bodies. Also good personal hygiene controls to prevent all sorts of employee bits and bobs from entering production.
If you have the above in place already then you really should be covered. If not get them in place quickly.
In packaging the risk is significantly lower if your product is supplied on the reel (I think you would notice a nut and bolt wound into a reel). If you convert packaging in any way then there is a bit more chance as it is likely to be packed in boxes, however the likelihood of it getting into finished food product is still small.
Your customer is being very explicit and I agree with GMO you should ask WHY they think you should have a metal detector, are they getting a lot of foreign bodies, false rejects etc. Have their other suppliers got metal detectors?
I think you can reasonably argue your case not to have one, but knowledge is power so it was a good question to ask.
Regards,
Simon
You need to assess the risk in your own circumstances, but to give you a feel for it, I have visited at least 5 large flexible producers in the UK and Europe and I have never seen one in use for finished product.
We have no customer rejections for metal so you have confirmed my thinking that this customer is over the top. You tell me there is no basis for this request on standards and norms and that gives me the strength and confidence to debate this out with the customer.
Typical controls would include an effective cleaning (sanitation) program, an effective preventive maintenance system for your building infrastructure and machines so that no bits are at risk of dropping off, in addition an effective and documented ‘hand over’ to production following maintenance, so that everything is clean and clear of foreign bodies. Also good personal hygiene controls to prevent all sorts of employee bits and bobs from entering production.
If you have the above in place already then you really should be covered. If not get them in place quickly.
Regards,
Simon
Anybody use inversion and air blowing?
Regards,
Tony