How Businesses Can Reduce Their Carbon Footprint And Improve Food Safety With Packaging Equipment

Food safety is an issue everyone, be they consumer or the head of a business, can relate to. Without the aid of advanced technology and a careful human eye to assess our food for potential hazards, chemicals or contaminants, an untold number of people could become ill, contract diseases or even die. How is food safety achieved in a variety of different industries? By using every resource available. Food metal detectors, checkweigher machines or a vertical form fill seal machine can make sure that food is crafted properly to order.

Food Waste

A common concern for many businesses and communities alike is that of food waste. This can be promoted through sloppy packaging or poor distribution practices, among other things, and cost industries millions of excess dollars every year. Estimates show nearly 60% of the American population, as many as 148 million people, have access to a plastics recycling program. Likewise, packaging experts estimate that a mere pound of plastic packaging can reduce food waste by nearly two pounds ever year. This means more food used, less food wasted and more money saved all around the board.

Foodborne Illness

A prevalent hazard for any food industry is that of foodborne illness. Although meat has a higher rate of bacteria, any form of food is prone to spoiling and accumulating harmful diseases. Every single year one out of six Americans, or 48 million people, will get sick from the food they eat. Another 128,000 will be hospitalized for an extended period of time and nearly 3,000 will die from a foodborne disease. A vertical form fill seal machine or x-ray food inspection machine can keep bacteria as well as metallic bits at bay.

Metallic Contaminants

Food can not only be home to dangerous bacteria or poor temperatures, but they can also be home to metallic contaminants. These are incredibly hazardous and can lead to a variety of severe problems if not checked, ranging from an allergic reaction to intestinal damage. There are three main groups of metallic contaminants able to be detected by a standard food detector system. There’s the Ferrous, the Non Ferrous and the Stainless Steel, with some food having multiple varieties.

Sealing Techniques

The benefits of a vertical form seal machine go a long way. Not only can they be used to package food at a rapid rate, they maintain a high quality by making sure each sealing technique is done to perfection. Vacuum sealers are able to preserve food three to five times longer than food stored in a basic plastic bag or container such as a box or pouch. The average metal detector application with either a wet or conductive product can see 2.5 to 3.5 mm of stainless steel detected, with an x-ray furthering this with an additional 1.5 mm.

Preserving Food Safety

Food safety keeps millions of people safe every year. The aid of a vertical form fill seal machine or food metal detector can make sure it stays that way. With allergies, metallic contaminants and bacteria to keep track of, a careful human hand can only go so far. Technology can increase the rate at which your business can package and distribute without sacrificing quality, maintaining a happy balance that keeps consumers healthy. With the added benefit of a positive environmental impact, with 50% of the world making purchasing decisions actively based on a business’ carbon footprint, there’s nothing standing in the way of creating the most beneficial reality possible.