The Importance Of Detectable Plastics For Food Safety

For decades, plastic has ruled as the preferred choice to build a wide range of products and components. However, the past decade has witnessed a growing interest in developing more sustainable and eco-friendly plastics, such as biodegradable plastics. One emerging application for these plastics is in the realm of food safety.

Foodborne illnesses can have serious health consequences, and the risk of contamination can damage the reputation of food companies. One approach to improving food safety is to use detectable plastics in food packaging and processing. Detectable plastics are designed to be easily identified and separated from food products, reducing the risk of contamination.

Detectable plastics are made with a range of materials, including metals, dyes, and magnetic particles. These materials are added to the plastic during manufacturing, allowing the plastic to be detected by a range of different methods. For example, metal-detectable plastics contain small metal particles that can be detected using metal detectors commonly used in food processing facilities. Similarly, x-ray detectable plastics contain a high level of heavy metals, such as barium or tungsten, which are visible on x-ray machines.

The use of detectable plastics in food processing and packaging has the following advantages.

1. Easy removal of plastic: It allows for a more efficient and reliable method of detecting and removing plastic contamination from food products. This is particularly important in industries such as meat processing, where even small pieces of plastic can cause serious harm to consumers.
2. Reduction in food waste: In many cases, food products that are suspected of contamination must be discarded, leading to significant losses for food companies. By using detectable plastics, companies can quickly identify the source of contamination and remove only the affected products, reducing the amount of food waste generated.
3. Improvement in sustainability of food packaging: Biodegradable plastics can break down into natural components over time, reducing the environmental impact of plastic waste. This is particularly important in the food industry, where large quantities of packaging are used every day.

We hope that this article has provided you with useful insights on detectable plastic. Visit PLASTIVISION 2023 if you are interested in learning more about this valuable plastic and its role in ensuring food safety. This event will take place from December 7 to 11, 2023, at the Bombay Exhibition Centre in Goregaon, Mumbai. You can meet some of the finest minds from the industry here. To register for the event, please contact us at 022 6777 8846/48 / +91 99303 55494 or send an email to sanjeevani@plastivision.org