Detectable tags can survive hot or cold processing.
Batch tags play a crucial role in food production: they link specific production batches to inventory data. This enables producers to identify and trace individual batches as they move through the manufacturing process.
If a tag is lost or destroyed, the connection between the batch and the data is lost as well. In such circumstances, an issue with the quality or safety of a single batch can implicate the whole day’s output.
This is why processing environments involving extreme temperatures are particularly vulnerable to tag loss.
Fortunately, there are now batch traceability tags which are both metal detectable and heat shock resistant. They can cope with extreme temperatures from -25°C to 250°C (-13°F to 428°F).
This means that food batches passing through dry heat ovens or steam processes can be pre-tagged and are still identifiable when the cooking process is completed. Moreover, the tags remain traceable even if they move immediately from a hot environment to a blast freeze process.
Each tag consists of four layers of material laminated for strength and metal detectability. They can be identified and rejected by standard end-of-line metal detection systems.
“Customers around the world have asked for detectable tags that will survive in a hot or cold processing environment,” said James Chrismas, Detectamet’s managing director.
The tags feature a standard pre-printed area for recording product ID, date and time, batch codes and use by dates. They also include two extra lines for additional job-specific data. The tags maintain the traditional shape that loops through a keyhole cut-out, and are available in yellow or blue as standard.
Other colors and graphics are available for bulk and custom orders.
For more information, visit Detectamet’s website.
