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Legislation and practical tips on foreign objects and detectability in the food industry
What does the legislation in the Netherlands and Belgium say about foreign objects and detectability? What must you, as a food producer, really arrange? In the food industry, food safety is your license to operate. A key focus within any food safety management system is preventing foreign objects. Think of pieces of metal, plastic, glass, or wood that might accidentally end up in a product. What do Dutch and Belgian laws say about foreign objects and the use of detectable (work) materials? And with what practical tips can you prevent foreign objects?
Consumers consider anything that does not belong in a product as a foreign object.
Experts distinguish between two types of foreign items:
Voor de consument is het onderscheid tussen endogene en exogene voorwerpen niet relevant.
Zij accepteren simpelweg géén vreemde voorwerpen. Zelfs niet als deze geen direct gezondheidsrisico vormen, zoals bijvoorbeeld een snipper papier in het product. De verwachting van de consument is simpel: het product moet geleverd worden zoals het omschreven is én zoals het is gewenst of verwacht.
Foreign objects in products are anything that can unintentionally end up in a product during the production process or that cannot be removed and can be detected through touch (contact). Impurities such as chemical residues and microbiological contamination do not fall under this category.
With the help of detection, you can prevent foreign objects in the final product. There are different forms of detectability: visual detection, metal detection, x-ray detection, and detection using sieves.
The legislation surrounding foreign objects and metal detectable materials in the food industry in both the Netherlands and Belgium, as well as the EU, is primarily based on risk management within food safety systems such as HACCP and standards like FSSC 22000, BRCGS Food Safety, and IFS Food.
In the Netherlands, the NVWA is responsible for oversight. In Belgium, this is the FAVV. Both follow EU legislation but also expect companies to demonstrably control physical risks, such as metal, glass, or plastic. This is a requirement in the mandatory food safety systems and practical standards, such as HACCP and GFSI standards.
About controlling foreign objects and metal detectability.
The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) is a worldwide coalition of retailers and manufacturers working together to ensure food safety.
BRCS states that (work) materials must be designed to prevent contamination: proper sealing, smooth surfaces, correct welds, and joints. Additionally, (work) materials that come into direct contact with food must be legally suitable for food contact.
Furthermore, BRCS requires the use of (metal) detectable materials for tools, pens, cable ties, gloves, etc., to ensure compliance. Audits also ask for color coding and detectability of all tools in high-care and high-risk zones. Metal detectors and test procedures must be validated annually.
IFS Food focuses, among other things, on controlling foreign objects. This standard requires companies to take measures to prevent contamination and that tools are detectable via metal detectors, X-ray, or visual inspection.
The FSSC 22000 also addresses alien objects and metal detectability but is less prescriptive. The FSSC 22000 requires that physical hazards are included in the hazard analysis and that critical control points (CCPs) for foreign objects are defined and validated.
In terms of (work) materials and equipment, companies must have documented purchase specifications addressing hygienic design, legal and customer requirements, and the intended use of the (work) materials. The supplier must provide evidence that they comply with the specifications for use. Appendix 1 defines hygienic design as: “Design and manufacture (materials and construction) of equipment and buildings that are easy to clean and ensure safe food.”
No, in the Netherlands and Belgium, there is no legal maximum in millimeters for foreign objects. Whether a particle is 'unsafe' depends on:
The legal principle is: every physical contaminant poses a potential hazard, regardless of size and must be controlled and eliminated via HACCP guidelines. For practical risk assessment and inspection, guidelines are used in the industry and by inspection organizations such as NVWA and FAVV.
General population
< 7 mm
Only if it's not sharp.
Sick and elderly
< 2 mm
Often already a reason for recall.
Baby's (< 1 year)
0 mm > zero tolerance
Every particle is unacceptable.
Improving detection and preventing foreign objects.
Within quality standards such as FSSC 22000, BRCGS, and IFS Food, the use of detectable tools is not optional. If you want to comply with these standards, a comprehensive policy regarding foreign objects and detectability is mandatory.
Metal detectability is not mandatory according to these guidelines. Detection via magnets, x-ray, visual detection, or detection using sieves are also methods to detect foreign objects.
Due to the development of detectability, more and more tools and materials are available in a detectable variant. This makes it possible to minimize risks surrounding physical contamination within production facilities. Think of (metal/visually) detectable materials such as:
Especially in high-care environments or when producing for at-risk groups, this is mandatory terrain.
Practical measures to prevent foreign objects in products.
The HACCP plan may be perfectly designed, but if the implementation falters, you will still end up with unwanted bits of plastic, metal, glass, or wood on your conveyor belt. Therefore: concrete measures that work in practice.
There is no strict millimeter standard in the law, but the principle is clear: any physical foreign object poses a risk. Food producers in the Netherlands and Belgium must manage these risks through technical, behavioral, and administrative measures. Invest in:
This way, you ensure food safety, strengthen your certifications, and avoid... free advertising in the wrong way.
Brilliant Group is a specialist in hygiene and food safety for the food industry in the Netherlands and Belgium. We supply detectable products and also assist in risk analysis and the setup of your production location, from locker room to storage.
