When plastic pieces contaminate food products the dangers to the consumers are primarily laceration or choking. The discovery by a consumer implies poor policies of prevention and inspection. On the basis of 'where there is one piece there must be others', it usually triggers an expensive publicised recall.

Good practices for all food producers include resilient methods of prevention and inspection to prevent contaminated products reaching customers. Potential contaminants like glass can be excluded from process areas, and metal detection and X-Ray inspection systems can provide a safety back-up that identifies and rejects contaminated products.

Plastics however are used to make essential tools, equipment and materials used in food processing. They are light, flexible and less likely to damage machinery.

Recent in-house reports show that contamination from plastic packaging material is of growing significance. The primary source is from ingredient packaging. Sean Smith Detectamet’s chairman, comments: "The careless disposal of plastic sacks, processing of entrapped polythene and the loss of pack labels have all been reported as contaminants. We have launched new product to address these challenges including detectable sacks of all sizes, detectable stretch wrap and the latest detectable paper.” 

Taking the decision to substitute ordinary ‘invisible’ plastic products with special detectable plastic equipment and materials achieves a latent intrinsic benefit that protects against bad practice, accidental events and malicious acts. 

“I like to think of our detectable plastic products as silent guardians that are constantly on watch", added Smith.