The plastic helps manufacturers comply with the new EU hygiene regulations coming into force on 1 January and could help prevent costly recalls of contaminated food products that have reached the market.
E-Components & Chains, a company based in Pocklington, UK, has been using the special plastic, called Detectamet, to manufacture a range of products used by the food industry. The plastic can be picked up by metal detectors used in food processing.
Use of the plastic allows processors to ensure that can be removed from foods that have accidentally been contaminated with the product either through human error or because pieces have been broken off without being noticed.
The new Detectamet plastic trays measure 285 x 230 x 50 mm and weigh 240 g. They are X-ray visible and chemical resistant. The trays can withstand temperatures from -30°C to 80°C. They are available in blue, red, green and yellow so that pieces can also be spotted by workers on the production line if breakage occurs.
The plastic used for the trays are approved for use as food-contact material in the US under the Food and Drug Administration's EU90-128 regulation.
This month E-Components & Chains also announced it had manufactured de-panning belt suction cups. The suction cups are used in the food industry to lift products such as bread, cake and pastries out of their moulds.
"In view of the large number of suction cups used in the food-handling industry, it is possible for a suction cup to be damaged, a part of it dropping into the food," the company stated. "Up to now, such parts could not be detected."
In January the company rolled out a line of metal-detectable plastic safety knives and pens. Other products from the company include metal detectable pens, hand scrapers and test sticks, among others.