Foreign material contamination isn’t just a challenge in human food manufacturing—it’s a critical issue in the pet food industry, too. Pet owners demand the same level of safety and quality for their animals as they do for themselves.
From supplier management to on-site detection systems, here’s how leading manufacturers are raising the bar for food safety in pet food, and how FlexXray supports that mission.
Supplier Monitoring: The First Line of Defense
Proactive foreign material prevention begins with raw material suppliers. Industry leaders are setting expectations early, working closely with vendors to reduce risk at the source. Clear specs, visual documentation, supplier scorecards, and regular communication help strengthen accountability and reduce surprises.
When foreign material is detected upon receipt, manufacturers preserve the contaminated material, share photos or samples, and determine whether to accept or reject the load based on severity. Strong supplier partnerships and transparency around each plant’s capabilities are key to shared success.
More details on supplier monitoring →
Detection and Prevention Inside the Plant
In manufacturing, most foreign material contamination stems from two areas: the product itself or the equipment used to process it. Preventive maintenance programs and robust detection systems play critical roles in keeping issues from escalating.
Some of the most effective in-plant strategies include:
- Metal detection and X-ray scanning
- Sifting, screening, and inline magnets
- Employee training and recognition programs
In dry kibble production, upstream visibility is particularly limited, especially after food is cooked. That makes early detection and staff attentiveness crucial. In canned products or sealed wet food, inspection options are more limited and often require destructive sampling or third-party support.
Internal Rework vs. Third-Party Inspection
While internal inspection systems can help narrow the scope of a contamination event, they’re often limited by detection sensitivity and format constraints. That’s where FlexXray adds value.
FlexXray’s high-sensitivity inspection services—including medical-grade X-ray and CT scanning—help pet food manufacturers:
- Detect smaller contaminants with greater accuracy
- Maintain product integrity during inspection
- Gain deeper insights into scope, source, and severity
- Make confident, data-driven decisions about product disposition
Whether inspecting sealed packages or retrieving contaminants for root cause analysis, FlexXray’s services provide fast, information-backed solutions that reduce waste, protect brand equity, and minimize downtime.
Wondering what to look for in an inspection provider? More details here →
Creating a Culture of Food Safety
The most advanced technology means little without a strong food safety culture. Leading pet food manufacturers are embedding quality at every level—ensuring transparency across departments, recognizing frontline employees, and setting clear KPIs around foreign material reduction.
This cross-functional ownership doesn’t just support incident response; it drives continuous improvement and reinforces trust with customers.
Today’s pet food buyers are more informed than ever. Manufacturers must meet rising expectations for quality, traceability, and safety—which means investing in people, technology, and partners who support contamination remediation.
FlexXray helps pet food producers resolve product holds efficiently and effectively, turning challenges into opportunities to protect your product and your brand. Start with a sample test here →
