Leak Detection for Food Packaging – Keeping Consumers Safe |

Food packaging is something we rarely think about while we are out grocery shopping. If the bag has a tight seal, we just grab the items, pay for them, and go. We never think about becoming ill from the food, and we never think about ingesting contaminants or impurities. We trust the detection technology used by the food industry because it rarely fails. We may not know how it works, and we may not understand the entire food packaging process. What we can recognize is the look and smell of spoiled food–and this is something you rarely see in large grocery stores and supermarkets.

Regulators will not allow food to reach the shelves until it has been through an inspection process. Part of this operation involves leak detection during the product packaging process. You can only do this effectively with leak detection equipment that is capable of discovering holes and gaps consistently. This apparatus must be dependable and accurate enough to detect leaks in multiple bags repeatedly. Reliability in Leak Detection

Most packages on supermarket shelves come from large warehouses. These are usually fast-paced environments with time restraints and picking/packing requirements. The management expects the workers to move quickly to keep up with large conveyor belts that are constantly running. The leak detection equipment in a warehouse setting needs to be reliable and capable of handling this stress. Normally, the leak testers in warehouses are large industrial mechanisms with detection monitors. These units can perform full tests on a variety of package types in about half a minute.

Pinpointing Potential Issues

Leak detection systems are in place to spot the location of a leak and determine its cause. Industrialists need to know if packaging leaks are coming from processing or production tasks. Manufacturers of packages try to choose the strongest packing materials for their products. Despite their efforts, there are still snags and sealing issues that may arise during processing. Even the strongest packages can tear and open while they are moving from place to place. After testing, the manufacturer will know if their product wrapping or turn-out process has flaws.

The Necessity of Testing

By the time a package reaches the supermarket, it usually went through a number of tests. Pressure checks are the most effective because they test the strength and integrity of the package. Bubble testing is important as well since small holes are perfect entranceways for bacteria. Without these and other tests, processing will cease and the product will never make it to the market.

Why We Trust Most Packaging

Subconsciously, we know most manufactured products are safe to consume and use. We can basically tell if an item is fresh by looking at the product packaging and seal. Packages containing air, (potato chips, popcorn, etc), will deflate a bit if they have been sitting for some time. Meats and other vacuum-sealed consumables have sell-by dates, but they will also look unpleasant if they are rotting. Food processing and leak detection equipment gives us the ability to judge a product with our eyes. This is why we trust most packaging even if we are unfamiliar with the manufacturing process. Check out the FlexPak website if you want to learn more.