BRCGS Issue 9 Detectable Products for Foreign Body Control

Strengthen foreign body control with metal detectable and X-ray visible products designed for food manufacturing. Detectamet helps food processors reduce risk around pens, cable ties, handheld items, engineering consumables and other contamination-prone products used in open product areas.

Reduce contamination risk

Replace standard factory items with metal detectable and X-ray visible alternatives designed for food processing environments.

Improve item control

Support tighter management of pens, cable ties, handheld tools and other portable items used near open product.

Support audit readiness

Strengthen foreign body prevention programmes with products and resources that support validation, verification and documentation.

Test in your environment

Request samples and assess product suitability in your own factory conditions before wider implementation.

Why BRCGS-focused food manufacturers choose detectable products

Foreign body contamination often comes from everyday factory items rather than major equipment failures. Pens, cable ties, small components, maintenance items and portable tools can all create avoidable risk if they are damaged, lost or poorly controlled. Detectable alternatives help reduce that risk by making common items easier to manage and, where appropriate, easier to identify through metal detection or X-ray inspection.

For food manufacturers working to strengthen foreign body prevention, detectable products offer a practical way to improve controls around everyday risk points without relying on generic industrial products that were not designed for food production environments.

Where Detectamet products add value

Portable items in open product areas

Pens, markers, knives and other handheld items are frequently used in production areas, yet they are also among the easiest items to drop, damage or misplace. Detectable alternatives support better portable item control and help reduce the risk of foreign matter contamination from standard multi-part products.

Detectamet’s one-piece stick pens are especially suited to higher contamination risk areas because the one-piece design helps reduce the risk of foreign matter contamination.

Metal detectable cable ties and consumables

Cable ties are widely used across food factories for bundling, securing and organising equipment, cables and components. Standard cable ties can become a contamination risk if they break, fragment or are introduced without adequate control. Metal detectable cable ties provide a more suitable alternative for food processing environments.

Engineering accessories and line-side components

Foreign body prevention should extend beyond obvious handheld items. Mounts, fasteners and other small engineering-related items used close to production equipment can also create avoidable contamination risk. Detectable alternatives support a stronger risk-based approach for maintenance and engineering teams.

Validation and verification support

A strong foreign body control programme depends on more than product selection alone. Detectamet recommends testing detectable products in the actual processing environment where they will be used, helping QA and technical teams confirm suitability before rollout.

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Why choose Detectamet

Detectamet products are developed specifically for food and processing environments, with a focus on helping reduce contamination risk and strengthen day-to-day control. Across the range, Detectamet offers strong detectability, durable construction, clear colour options for visual management, and customisation such as branding and sequential numbering on selected products.

From one-piece pens and cable ties to detectable accessories and validation support, Detectamet provides practical solutions for manufacturers looking to tighten foreign body prevention and improve control of everyday factory items.

Request samples and review your foreign body controls

If you are reviewing controls around portable items, engineering consumables or line-side contamination risks, Detectamet can help you identify suitable detectable products for your site and process.

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FAQ

What is BRCGS Issue 9?

BRCGS Food Safety Issue 9 is the current published edition of the BRCGS Food Safety standard and is used by certified food manufacturing sites as part of their food safety and quality framework.

How do detectable products support foreign body control?

Detectable products help reduce the risk that everyday items such as pens, cable ties and small components become uncontrolled foreign bodies in food production environments.

Are one-piece detectable pens suitable for food production areas?

Yes. One-piece detectable pens help reduce the risk of small detachable parts becoming foreign matter contaminants in controlled environments.

Why use metal detectable cable ties in food factories?

Metal detectable cable ties are designed for processing facilities and can help reduce contamination risk compared with standard cable ties if breakage or loss occurs.