There are no specific European or national regulations on foreign bodies in foodstuffs. However, Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 stipulates that no food shall be placed on the market if it is unsafe.
We can distinguish several cases where we can intervene by checking your products and helping you to identify the source:
– The involuntary marketing of products contaminated by foreign bodies, despite the precautions taken internally at all stages of production. The products have already been distributed and no procedural deviations have been found.
– Discovery of foreign bodies during production, whether the source is identified or not, the finished products present a risk to the consumer.
– Launch of a new product
– Highlighting a failure at one of your suppliers, personnel, production equipment, etc…
A tool sheet on physical hazards in food caused by foreign bodies was published by ANSES in 2014.
Whether food, pharmaceutical or cosmetic products, our x-ray inspection equipment does not cause any modifications whatsoever. The power generated to pass through the material is so low that even the inspection of organic products is possible.
Contamination of the controlled products is impossible because our X-rays are produced electrically by High Voltage and using a vacuum X-ray tube.
Even in case of abnormal exposure, product forgotten under the beam, no modification or contamination is possible. Customers, mainly in the pharmaceutical field, are carrying out parallel stability tests and no deviations have ever been found.
ELCOWA, 25 years of experience in the search for foreign bodies or defects has a fully dedicated control centre in Mulhouse to help you quickly manage this type of crisis. Leader in Europe in this field, do not hesitate to contact us for any information, advice, free tests, quotation or controls.
