It’s a sad fact that every year an estimated 600 million people fall ill after eating contaminated food. These cases result in an astonishing 420,000 deaths, according to the World Health Organization. As food production ramps up to cope with the world’s burgeoning population (it is set to grow from 8 billion today to 10 billion by 2050), these figures are on the rise.
This is a particular concern for the global food processing industry. What can it do to ensure food safety and safe food processing? This blog, which accompanies our post and whitepaper on the Special Hygienic Conveyor (SHC), focuses specifically on solutions to lower the risk of contamination.
While the majority of food contamination cases occur in areas with low levels of food safety, developed countries are not immune. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), for example, estimates that almost 50 million Americans become ill every year from contaminated food or beverages. Among those, 128,000 end up in the hospital and 3,000 die.
To address the problem, countries are adopting ever-more stringent food safety regulations. The European Commission, for example, is currently in the process of tightening its benchmark regulation on microbial contaminants in food, Regulation (EC) 2073/2005.
While pathogens are the main contaminant, the processing industry must also grapple with foreign object contamination. Plastic chips dislodged due to the wear and tear of plastic conveyor belts are a particular headache. In 2022, for example, almost a quarter of all food recalls in the US were the result of foreign object contamination. After a lull during the Covid pandemic, this figure, like that of microbial contaminants, is on the rise.
These factors mean that food processors are faced with a significant challenge: striving to meet increased demand while adapting to stricter regulations and reducing contamination risks. Overcoming such challenges will require maximum levels of hygiene and safety in food processing.
The Special Hygienic Conveyor is specifically designed to reduce contamination risks, having been expressly developed to convey packed food, including meat, fish and fruit. The roller conveyor’s components are ISO-5 cleanroom certified, for example, meaning they emit fewer than 100 particles per cubic foot. They also have a minimum IPX5 water-resistant rating, protecting them from medium-pressure water jets. This is important as cleaning can lead to effluent build-up and the ingress of microbes. For additional protection, all flat metal surfaces are rustproof and very slightly slanted to allow liquids to run off.
Some components provide even higher levels of protection. Rollers are the key element of roller conveyors but are often considered a weak link due to leakiness. As a leader in the technology, Interroll has developed a sealed roller that eliminates cross-contamination resulting from leaks. The product offers IP69k-rated protection – the highest level of defense against dust and high-pressure water jets, and is the first such sealed roller in the world.
Additionally, all SHC drives meet several of the hygienic design criteria set by the European Hygienic Engineering and Design Group (EHEDG). These include the use of non-toxic, inert materials that are corrosion-resistant, and the use of detergent-resistant product-contact surfaces. You can find more details on the SHC’s food safety features, including the evidence to back our statements, in the whitepaper.
In addition to food safety, the Special Hygienic Conveyor is designed to protect the safety of the people operating it. Food processing facilities are dangerous places, so the automated SHC has integrated safety and protection elements, such as finger guards, to avoid accidents. And there are no protruding objects, exposed hot surfaces or unstable loads. It also operates in the safe range for hearing (<70 decibels).
The SHC is not only a leader in hygiene – it also offers industry-leading levels of efficiency and sustainability. Material flows are up to 50% more efficient than belt conveyors, energy consumption around 90% lower and its use of mainly roller conveyors reduces water usage in cleaning and plastic waste. Being based on Interroll’s highly successful MCP unit-handling platform, SHC components are also proven and low maintenance.
No technology can fully remove the threat of food contamination in food processing. But they can significantly reduce risks, whether from microbes or foreign objects. Our tests and other evidence proves that the Special Hygienic Conveyor does exactly that. In addition, the platform is safe to use, protecting factory and warehouse workers, all while delivering efficient and sustainable performance. So download the whitepaper now and find out how the SHC can help you.