Fortress Technology
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www.fortresstechnology.co.uk.
In the raw ingredient phase, food is abrasive peeling to remove fibrous stringent retailer Codes of Practice
exposed to different processes - from skin, coring, trimming and cutting. when its product range takes off.
slicing meat, filleting fish, grinding Some products are then passed spice or mixing dry and wet baking through a vibrating screen to sort ingredients. Later down the line, SMEs produce by size. Before the packing may be cutting salads, vegetables can commence, there’s often another and meats for appetising lunchtime wash cycle, sometimes several in the kits, preparing nutrient rich soups, case of leafy greens.
or cooking and mixing new office
breakfast staples like Bircher muesli
and fruit compotes - again introducing
a possible metal contaminant into the
food supply chain.
All of these processes and exposure
to timesaving preparation equipment
increases the risk of tiny fragments
entering the production chain.
Cost of equipment is naturally a big
factor for SMEs, especially during
the early business years. X-ray - the
other food inspection alternative - is
generally far more expensive than
even the newest metal detector.
The running costs are also much
higher. Typically, an SME can expect
to pay in the region of £4,000 to
£18,000 for a metal detector. This
depends on the size and complexity of
Another good example of how metal
fragments can be introduced to
products is in the preparation of side
Installing a metal detection system
is the first line of defence. Even if
inspecting for metal contaminants
salads and fresh cut produce. isn’t a retailer requirement now, SMEs
The cycle can involve preliminary early stage will be ready to expand
washing, often in a metal drum, and meet the demands of the more
the application. But when compared
to around £35,000 to £40,000
to install x-ray, it’s quite a price
difference.
that start to institute systems at the
FDPP - www.fdpp.co.uk 43