Ensuring Brand Integrity Through High-Performing Manufacturing Partners

In September, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a company announcement from a third party food manufacturer who voluntarily recalled freeze-dried products due to the potential presence of metal in the product. The FDA notes that “Hard or sharp foreign objects in food may cause traumatic injury including laceration and perforation of tissues of the mouth, tongue, throat, stomach and intestine as well as damage to the teeth and gums.”

Ensuring consumer safety is every food manufacturer’s top priority. But challenges can arise anywhere along the supply chain; missed physical contaminants can originate in supplier, 3^rd party, and primary manufacturing facilities—creating a situation that requires swift action, strong partnerships, and a shared commitment to quality.

Product Inspection Equipment are Part of a Food Quality Program

Recalls due to metal or other physical contaminants found in food products are not uncommon.  Massive machines vibrate and cause screws to fall out into the production line, worn out machines break down and pieces break off, and various sources of raw materials from farms and orchards can contain metal and plastic pieces, stones, and glass that were harvested from the ground along with the fallen fruit, vegetables, and nuts.

Most major food processors utilize product inspection equipment, like industrial metal detectors and X-ray inspection systems to find and eliminate these contaminants before they get shipped out the door and land onto store shelves. When food processors expand capacity through trusted third-party manufacturers, their brand remains front and center. With the right quality systems, visibility, and partnership strategies in place, companies can scale production seamlessly—while safeguarding the reputation consumers know and trust.

Third Party Manufacturers Play an Integral Role in the Food Industry

Third-party manufacturers in the food industry are external companies that specialize in producing food products on behalf of other brands or businesses. These manufacturers operate independently and are contracted to handle various aspects of food production, including processing, packaging, and sometimes even distribution.

By leveraging the expertise and facilities of third-party manufacturers, food companies can benefit from cost efficiencies, scalability, and specialized knowledge without the need to invest heavily in their own production infrastructure. This arrangement allows food companies to focus on their core competencies, such as product development, marketing, and sales, while trying to ensure that their products are produced to high standards and meet regulatory requirements.

When engaging a third-party food manufacturer, brands have a valuable opportunity to align on shared quality expectations—openly discussing robust quality control programs, including contaminant detection measures, to help ensure consistent product integrity and protection of brand standards.

Advanced technologies to help assure quality, keep consumers safe, and protect your brand

Food manufacturers know the importance of product inspection systems on their lines, so it is equally important to seek out third party manufacturers that implement product inspection technologies for their customers.

Industrial food metal detectors and X-ray inspection systems are paramount in helping to ensure that food products are free of physical contaminants before they reach consumer hands. Industrial food metal detection equipment should provide sensitive, reliable, cost-effective detection of metal contaminants. They should be flexible, accurate solutions that support detection at any stage of the process, even in the most challenging environments. Metal detectors that utilize multiscan technology utilize up to five completely adjustable frequencies to find metal types and sizes previously undetectable. Using a true broad-spectrum approach reduces the probability of an escape by many orders of magnitude. This technology is analogous to having up to five metal detectors sequentially in a production line.

X-ray food inspection systems enable the detection of both metallic and non-metallic foreign objects in all types of packaging. X-ray detection and inspection systems are designed for a wide variety of food applications and package types, including cans and bottles, and those with advanced design and technology allow for additional quality control capabilities such as detection of missing pieces and under- and over-fills.

Summary

Third-party manufacturers play a crucial role in enabling food companies to respond quickly to market demands, manage risks associated with production, and bring products to market faster – through shared commitment to the primary facility’s quality standards and the use of state-of-the-art product inspection solutions.

Providing peace of mind to customers that only the safest and highest quality products will be manufactured under their brand name will bring peace of mind to the manufacturers as well.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How common are recalls due to metal or physical contaminants in food products?
Recalls related to physical contaminants such as metal, plastic, glass, or stones occur regularly in the food industry due to the complexity of processing equipment and raw material sourcing.

2. What is a third party food manufacturer?
A third-party food manufacturer is an independent company that produces, processes, or packages food products on behalf of another brand.

3. What types of physical contaminants can metal detectors and X-ray systems identify?
Industrial metal detectors identify ferrous, non-ferrous, and stainless steel contaminants. X-ray systems can detect both metallic and non-metallic foreign objects such as glass, stones, dense plastics, and bones.

4. How does multiscan metal detection technology improve contaminant detection?
Multiscan technology uses multiple adjustable frequencies to detect a broader range of metal types and sizes, significantly reducing the risk of contaminants escaping detection.

5. Can X-ray inspection systems do more than detect foreign objects?
Yes. In addition to detecting contaminants, advanced X-ray systems can verify product integrity by identifying missing components, broken pieces, underfills, and overfills.

6. What should brands look for when selecting a third-party food manufacturer?
Brands should evaluate quality control programs, contaminant detection systems, regulatory compliance history, audit transparency, and alignment on food safety standards.

7. How can companies protect their brand reputation when scaling production through third parties?
By establishing strong quality agreements, conducting regular audits, ensuring implementation of advanced inspection technologies, and maintaining visibility across the supply chain, brands can scale production while helping to protect consumer trust.