Foreign object detection policy
11 Dec 2024
Aims and objectives
The risk of product contamination shall be reduced or eliminated by the effective use of equipment to remove or detect foreign bodies. Foreign body removal must always be considered secondary to preventing contamination in the first place. This policy applies to all suppliers supplying food products and ingredients to Wetherspoon.
Requirements
- It is the responsibility of suppliers to ensure that all foreign body risks are identified, managed and controlled in such a way that the safety and legality of the products supplied to Wetherspoon are maintained.
- In the event that a foreign body contamination has knowingly occurred, it is the responsibility of the supplier to inform Wetherspoon immediately – corrective and remedial action must be taken.
- The foreign object detection methods in place, within the production facility, must be coherent with the product being produced.
- All products should be passed through a foreign object detection device. In general, this will be a metal detector or X-ray, with consideration given to other devices, where appropriate.
- All detection methods should be located in such a way that they are as close as possible to the final packing point.
- All devices should be calibrated on a predetermined schedule (at least yearly) by the equipment manufacturer or fully trained contractors. The calibration should be to the tightest sensitivity, without increasing the number of false positives.
- The detection machinery should be in full working order at the start of the production run.
- The detection machinery should be checked at the beginning and end of a run, as well as a minimum of hourly. All checks should be documented appropriately as detailed in the relevant detection system.
- The detection machinery shall incorporate an automatic rejection device; belt stop or other such method – to allow effective segregation of any affected products.
