In light of several recent high-profile food recalls involving contaminants such as plastic and stones, industry manufacturers and producers are urged to enhance their inspection protocols. These events have raised serious safety concerns, necessitating immediate action within food and drink packaging sectors.
This advisory stems from Ishida, the global leader in end-to-end solutions for weighing, packing, and safety in the food industry. The recommendation follows a series of substantial recalls associated with well-known brands and supermarkets, including potential instances of fruit and nut bars potentially containing plastic, as well as chocolate bars that may contain stones appearing on store shelves.
To mitigate the risk of brand reputation damage, consumer safety issues, and financial losses resulting from product withdrawals and investigations, Ishida urges food manufacturers to incorporate advanced X-ray inspection systems. These systems provide a crucial layer of protection that surpasses traditional metal detection methods.
Furthermore, a recent survey conducted by Ishida among over 200 food manufacturing and packaging professionals revealed that fewer than 10% currently utilize an X-ray system within their operations. This highlights the potential for improvement and underscores the importance of enhancing food and drink sustainable packaging practices.
“Foreign body contamination incidents are not rare anomalies; they are rising concerns across the industry,” said Glen Oxborough, Business Manager, X-ray Inspection at Ishida Europe. “Whether the culprit is metal, bone, stone, or plastic, relying on metal detection alone leaves manufacturers exposed. The need for adaptable and advanced inspection systems has never been clearer.”
X-ray inspection systems are capable of detecting a broad spectrum of contaminants—not just metals—making them indispensable for brands dedicated to maintaining product safety and quality. Additionally, these systems facilitate enhanced traceability and data archiving, crucial for complying with food safety regulations. Moreover, X-ray machines deliver superior inspection performance across complex applications, including overlapping products and irregular packaging formats.
Importantly, these systems cater to manufacturers of all sizes, from large multinationals to emerging producers, by offering tailored solutions that meet their specific risk levels, market needs, and budgets.
“Whether it is our entry-level IX-EN X-ray inspection model or our more advanced IX-PD machines designed for high-risk applications like poultry, Ishida’s systems provide scalable protection across production lines,” Glen added. “When reputational damage and financial fallout from a recall can be devastating—especially for smaller businesses—access to reliable inspection technology is crucial.”
In response to increasing demand, Ishida has expanded its testing capabilities across the UK and Europe, enabling food manufacturers to efficiently compare system performance. Dedicated test facilities in Birmingham, UK, and Prague, Czech Republic, are available for demonstrating packaging lines, allowing manufacturers to observe X-ray machine performance firsthand prior to installation in their facilities.
Glen concludes: “Reactiveness counts. Recalls often trigger the need for urgent investment decisions, but proactively upgrading food safety standards in factories can aid compliance with retailer directives and offer an added level of assurance against foreign body contamination risks. We have the infrastructure to deliver fast testing and expert advice, assisting food businesses in recovering from recall issues and supporting proactive manufacturers looking to enhance their safety protocols.”
To learn more about Ishida’s X-ray inspection solutions, click here.
