Physical food contamination potentially harms consumers and can shatter brand reputations. Food producers and processors rely on integrated inspection technologies to ensure that consumer health is protected and their brand’s reputation for quality is maintained.
European meat producer Giersch GmbH & Co. KG provides a prime example of how Mettler-Toledo metal detection systems can be applied at critical points in the production process to minimise the potential for contamination.
Giersch produces high quality meat and sausages. The freshly prepared products are delivered to customers daily using the company’s own fleet. Product quality and consumer protection are paramount. Giersch has used Mettler-Toledo metal detection systems for several years as part of its total quality regime, which also includes regular hygiene and quality training for employees and supplier audits by its delicatessen customers.
“We want to offer our customers only tested, high quality products, and we have been working for a number of years with Mettler-Toledo,” explains Oliver Giersch, the company’s Managing Director.
The company uses advanced metal detection technology for its unpackaged products: an HDS Pipeline system ensures that high quality sausage meat is free of any metal contamination following vacuum filling. The high frequency technology in the metal detection system is able to detect the smallest of metal contaminants: such as thin pieces of wire, cutter tips or metal shavings.
If the HDS Pipeline system detects a metal contaminant, it sends a signal to the vacuum filler and production is halted. The vacuum filler displays details of the metal and a visual signal alerts the operator. The contaminated meat is removed from the process, ensuring the consumer receives only flawless, tested product. By ensuring that only faulty product is rejected, the HDS Pipeline system leads to reduced operating costs.
The sausage producer makes up to seven batch changes a day in order to offer its customers a wide range of products. The HDS Pipeline system is capable of processing the entire product range with just a single, high-sensitivity setting. This saves Giersch time and money at every product batch change, because the new batch can be processed immediately without any need for resetting.
There are many advantages in analysing the sausage meat for Giersch’s clipped products, too. Metal impurities are detected early, before the product is packaged; thus avoiding the need to destroy a large amount of product if a contamination incident arises.
Says their MD: “In addition to its simple set-up and operation, we were impressed by how well the HDS Pipeline system works with the vacuum filler.” Excellent mechanical integrity, easy installation and cleaning complete the system’s features.
Giersch has also decided to employ Mettler-Toledo Safeline metal detectors to provide further monitoring of packaged sausage meats. In this case, the Profile metal detector is used as an additional quality assurance tool to ensure all Giersch packaged products are metal-free. This solution also uses highly sensitive, high-frequency detection technology and immediately detects the smallest metal contaminants, including ferrous and non-ferrous metals and stainless steel.
When it detects a metal contaminant, the Profile metal detector triggers an alarm signal and stops the production line. The contaminated product is removed manually from the line. For quality management purposes, the metal detector provides all statistical data via a USB interface.
Both metal detection solutions are essential elements within the quality environment of this IFS-certified company. The dual analysis of products at critical control points avoids costly product recalls and protects the reputation of the Giersch brand.
Concludes Mr Giersch: “You can taste quality. This is true not only for the ingredients and recipes, but also for the technology.”
