PACKAGING
Choosing the right inspection equipment for fresh produce The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way Australians eat and shop for fresh produce, with significant changes in online shopping habits, Food and Beverage Industry News explains.
C
onsumers are increasingly buying their groceries online and fruit and vegetables have seen a significant shift to pre-packed produce since the beginning of the pandemic, now representing more than half (53 per cent) of produce sales in major supermarkets, according to Nielson figures. In response to this shift food retailing and distribution has had to evolve rapidly. Growers and fresh produce companies are pursuing strategic partnerships in order to innovate their packaging and inspection processes and ensure the quality and safety of their products. As a leading food processing industry supplier, Heat and Control understands the importance of
inspection equipment for the fresh produce industry. Heat and Control’s packaging and inspection systems are designed to meet food industry safety standards and as the complexity of these lines increases, so does the technology needed to keep produce safe. Having a metal detector, checkweigher and sometimes even an X-ray machine at the end of the production line is allowing Australian growers and fresh produce companies to easily comply with global safety standards and meet the demands of quality and safety conscious retailers and consumers.
Protect your customers and your brand “If the pandemic has shown us
A digital sorting system being used on frozen blueberries. 26 Food&Beverage Industry News | September 2021 | www.foodmag.com.au
anything, it is that many things are out of our control. However, something that is in our control, is how we protect our brand and our customers,” said Phil Garro, senior sales executive of packaging and inspection systems at Heat and Control. Inspection equipment plays a crucial role in preventing product recall. “One safety recall is enough to ruin years spent establishing a good reputation. The costs associated with a product recall are much more than just loss, return or exchange of tainted produce. It can mean loss of brand rapport and customer loyalty too,” said Garro. By choosing the right inspection systems you give yourself peace of mind. This equipment ensures that you have done everything possible to
prevent a foreign material from making its way into your product and gives you certainty that your product is safe.” While accidental contamination is always a concern, Australian fresh produce suppliers are unfortunately no stranger to incidents of intentional contamination. It is these incidents that highlight the crucial role of inspection technology in protecting brands and ensuring food safety.
Inspection process explained Developing and maintaining an effective, verifiable inspection process is no longer an option for processors. Innovative technology is available that can not only detect foreign objects but will operate simply, efficiently and at high speed while at the same time allowing for the collection and
