Metal Detection for Re-Packager of Freeze Dried Fruits & Vegetable
We are looking to start re-packaging Bulk supplied freeze dried banana slices, strawberries, blueberries, pineapple chunks and spinach, kale, coconut, and powdered beets and avocado.
Our bulk is supplied in 28lb to 42lb boxes.
We have a "clean" room prepared with curtians, etc.
The re-packaging with be completed by had with plastic scoops into LLDPE gusseted bottom bags.
Do they need to be passed through metal detection again?
Is there any RISK to product being contaminated with metal during this process?
Plastic scoops will be used to fill bags, weigh checked and sealed by hand. The bulk that we purchase that is metal checked at the producer come in glued and taped boxes. Dbl. Bagged.
The only metal in the room is SS NSF tables and the scale. No cutting or scraping from tables.
Do they need to be passed through metal detection again?
Do they pass through a metal detector, at a facility under your process or is the supplier's?
We are looking to start re-packaging Bulk supplied freeze dried banana slices, strawberries, blueberries, pineapple chunks and spinach, kale, coconut, and powdered beets and avocado.
Our bulk is supplied in 28lb to 42lb boxes.
We have a "clean" room prepared with curtians, etc.
The re-packaging with be completed by had with plastic scoops into LLDPE gusseted bottom bags.
Do they need to be passed through metal detection again?
Are you bulk packaging it for a customer, for the product to be processed further (most probably) or is it going to an end consumer (less likely)?
IMO: if it is going to be further processed by your customer and if they are aware of the hazard, as they are going to run the finished product under a metal detector, you should be fine. However, IMO, regardless of the clean status of the room and plastic scoops, there is always a chance of metal inclusion from your processing lines (if any)/ Employees. However, as Scampi mentioned in the post above, it all depends on your risk assessment of the process.
Do they pass through a metal detector, at a facility under your process or is the supplier's?
Are you bulk packaging it for a customer, for the product to be processed further (most probably) or is it going to an end consumer (less likely)?
IMO: if it is going to be further processed by your customer and if they are aware of the hazard, as they are going to run the finished product under a metal detector, you should be fine. However, IMO, regardless of the clean status of the room and plastic scoops, there is always a chance of metal inclusion from your processing lines (if any)/ Employees. However, as Scampi mentioned in the post above, it all depends on your risk assessment of the process.
We would be re-packaging to distribute to our customers in 16oz to 12oz bags.
Are you metals tables et all under daily inspection for integrity? If so, I would (safely) assume that your risk is very very low and therefore the installation of a metal detector is not required.
As long as you are inspecting the metal you do have in close proximity to the re bagging area.
Our procedure require daily inspection of all handling equipment, tables, and scales before start-up each morning.
Cleaning and inspection has standard reporting for hazard and corrective action.
IMO i wouldn't install a metal detector in this case
The supplier doing the metal check is great, however I would not directly rely on it. I would install a metal detector at your location as well. Thus, I concur with Scampi
Metal detection capapability is, amongst other factors, mainly influenced by detector aperture size.
Means your supplier is most likely working with worse values than you would typically desire for consumer sized products.
Request their current standards, if they exceed Ferrous: 1,5mm NFe: 2,0mm and Stainless: 3,0mm I would suggest to either
check while filling or control the single filled pouches.