What are the main sources of metal contamination in food
There are many sources of metal contamination – even the strictest control measures cannot completely prevent tiny metal contaminants from occasionally entering products used by consumers. Good manufacturing practice minimizes the possibility of metal contamination entering the production process, and proper equipment design and rational selection maximize the reliable detection and rejection of any metal particles entering the production process. Sources of contamination typically include the following: • Raw materials: Typical examples include metal tags and lead filling in meat products, wire in wheat, mesh wire in powdered materials, tractor parts in vegetables, hooks in fish , staples, and wire bundles in material containers. • Human Impact: Buttons, pens, jewelry, coins, keys, cards, rings, pins, paperclips, etc. • Maintenance Repairs: Screwdrivers and similar tools, metal shavings and slag from repairs, copper shavings from electrical repairs, other items from inefficient cleaning or neglect, and metal shavings from plumbing repairs. • In-shop handling: Whenever product is handled or processed, there is always a risk of contamination. Crushers, mixers, slicers and transport systems can all be sources of metal contamination. Contaminants from these sources include broken screens, metal chips from milling machines, and foil from recycled products. Identify possible contamination