Vision system technology advances food safety and quality assurance

As the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tightens its surveillance of food processors, regulatory officials have a heightened awareness for any type of food-safety hazard, says Donna Schaffner, associate director of food safety, quality assurance and training for Rutgers Food Innovation Center, in Bridgeton, N.J.

This is not surprising because during the first half of 2019, the single largest cause of food-safety recalls was plastic foreign material in food products. Several large meat and poultry processors experienced huge recalls this year, because of finds of plastic pieces, she says.