4 Steps to Quality Control in Pet Food Production

How to select the right product inspection technology for every stage of pet food production

7 mins

17 Feb, 2025

Miriam Krechlok, Segment Marketing Manager

Pet food production, whether it be wet or dry pet food, demands meticulous attention to detail at every stage to facilitate safety, quality and compliance. Selecting the right product inspection technology for each stage of the production process is crucial.

In this article, we explore the product inspection technologies that pet food manufacturers should consider installing at four key production stages: incoming goods, mixing process, filling stage and packaging.

Most pet owners treat their animals as cherished members of the family. They expect pet food to meet the same high standards as their own food. Pet food manufacturers must meet consumer expectations and protect their brand image, while navigating complex regulatory requirements and various production challenges.

Using advanced product inspection technology can be an invaluable tool in supporting manufacturers with these challenges, providing comprehensive solutions to combat rising costs, enhance productivity and uphold the integrity of pet food products throughout the production process.

Rising to the Challenge: Combating Costs and Increasing Productivity

Producing pet food at the scale required to be profitable involves a delicate balance between maintaining efficiency and achieving uncompromised safety and quality. Product inspection technology for pet food plays a pivotal role in streamlining production processes by swiftly identifying and resolving issues in real-time. This proactive approach reduces production stoppages and the downtime required for equipment maintenance, as well as the requirements for manual inspections, allowing operations to continue uninterrupted. With the addition of automated physical contaminant detection and inline weight and label control, manufacturers mitigate their risk of costly recalls, empowering them to prosper while upholding their brand integrity in a fiercely competitive market landscape.

Safety and Quality: The Foundation of Pet Food Production

Just as with human food, producing safe products is paramount in pet food production. In fact, pet food is required to meet many of the same stringent regulations as the food we eat. Pet food product inspection – which includes metal detection, x-ray inspection, checkweighing and vision inspection – is imperative to protecting pet food product safety and quality. These systems are used to identify harmful foreign body contaminants, maintain accurate fill levels, detect packaging defects, and verify label integrity. They work in tandem to make sure that each batch of pet food meets the same high standards of quality as the last. Additionally, they can address concerns such as broken or crushed pieces in dry pet food or snacks. By conducting thorough quality assurance checks throughout the production process, manufacturers can confidently deliver safe and reliable products to pet owners worldwide, nurturing trust and loyalty in their brands.

Read the Earth Animal case study to see an example of product inspection in action.

Upholding Regulatory Compliance: Meeting Standards Every Step of the Way

In the pet food industry, adherence to regulatory standards is non-negotiable. Retailer codes of practice, guided by industry benchmarks such as the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), sets the bar for food safety and quality.

Pet food inspection helps manufacturers comply with these standards by conducting meticulous inspections at critical control points so regulatory requirements can be met at each stage of the production process.

Upholding compliance demonstrates a commitment to transparency and the highest standards of pet food safety - which can also strengthen consumer trust in the brand.

Manufacturers who use product inspection equipment during pet food production at various stages quickly learn just how indispensable of an asset it is for improving efficiency while producing safe and high-quality products, and keeping costs down.

Stage 1: Incoming Goods - Quality from the Start

Whether processing wet or dry pet food, inspecting incoming ingredients and materials sets the foundation for product integrity throughout the rest of the manufacturing process. Metal detection and x-ray inspection for pet food serve as a frontline defense by inspecting raw materials for unwanted foreign objects such as metal, stone, or glass.

Leveraging these essential tools early in the production process means that contaminated ingredients can be detected early - before additional value is added further downstream. It also allows manufacturers to pinpoint suppliers who consistently provide poor quality ingredients.

Finding physical contaminants early in the production process also protects downstream equipment from damage, therefore minimizing the risk of downtime for repairs.

Stage 2: Mixing - Maintaining Consistency and Safety

In the critical mixing process where ingredients combine to create the desired pet food formula, both x-ray inspection and metal detection systems for pet food and play crucial roles in protecting the safety and quality of both wet and dry pet food products.

In wet pet food production, hygienically-designed equipment is essential due to sanitary requirements and to prevent dangerous bacterial growth. These advanced systems will accurately detect foreign body contamination within the processed mixture, and when it’s time for changeovers or cleaning, they’re built ruggedly enough to stand up to harsh washdown procedures.

Stage 3: Filling - Precision and Accuracy

In the filling stage of pet food production, precise, accurate measurements are essential to avoid under-filling (resulting in unhappy customers or fines) or over-filling (resulting in costly product waste or giveaway).

For wet pet food, the focus is on dispensing the correct amount into each container. X-ray inspection can provide fill level checks to make sure packages are not over- or under-filled, and checkweighers can verify container weight for consistency and regulatory compliance.

In dry pet food production, the emphasis is on achieving the correct weight per package. Pet food checkweighers provide real-time feedback, aiding in maintaining precise portioning and product quality. With tailored checkweighing technology, manufacturers can streamline filling tasks, mitigate risks and uphold product integrity.

Stage 4: Packaging - Protecting Product Integrity

In the final stage of packaging, implementing product inspection equipment is just as essential as the previous stages.

it’s the last chance for manufacturers to confirm that the products they send out are what they want customers to see on store shelves.

This means that each package is safe to eat, undamaged, displays the correct information for quality and nutrition, and contains the product that is expected – but does not contain the unwanted addition of physical contamination.

With label data and quality checks to verify label accuracy and completeness checks at the end of the production line, these pet food inspection technologies help support compliance with regulatory standards.

Manufacturers who implement these advanced tools at the end of their production are demonstrating their commitment to protecting their product quality and integrity, which in turn instills confidence in pet owners to foster long-term brand loyalty.

ProdX - The Next Level in Product Safety

ProdX Food Safety and Quality Management Software provides the next level in product safety and savings for pet food manufacturers by extending the data management functionality of your product inspection devices. ProdX is a quality control software for manufacturing that saves food manufacturers time and money by automating the monitoring, reporting, and collating of all product inspection activities in real-time. The safely-stored data can help manufacturers grow their business by facilitating food safety regulatory compliance, taking due diligence to the next level. By analyzing the data, production line improvements can be identified thereby helping to boost productivity and combat rising costs.

Happy Pets Starts with Product Inspection

Watch this short video to hear from Bingo the Dog and why he thinks product inspection is important to help him be happy, healthy and safe.

Then, download our Pet Food Guide to learn about product inspection for the pet food industry.

About the Author

Miriam Krechlok, Segment Marketing Manager, METTLER TOLEDO Product Inspection

Miriam provides expertise and insights for business development and segmented marketing activities in food and pharmaceutical segments. With experience in corporate identity and marketing in the food, cosmetic, and pharma industries, she has a wealth of experience to deliver great insights into these key segments. Based in Germany, her previous role at METTLER TOLEDO was Head of Marketing for the DACH region.

検索候補

4 Steps to Quality Control in Pet Food Production

How to select the right product inspection technology for every stage of pet food production

Rising to the Challenge: Combating Costs and Increasing Productivity

Safety and Quality: The Foundation of Pet Food Production

Upholding Regulatory Compliance: Meeting Standards Every Step of the Way

Stage 1: Incoming Goods - Quality from the Start

Stage 2: Mixing - Maintaining Consistency and Safety

Stage 3: Filling - Precision and Accuracy

Stage 4: Packaging - Protecting Product Integrity

ProdX - The Next Level in Product Safety

Happy Pets Starts with Product Inspection

Happy Pets Start with Product Inspection

About the Author

Related Content

検索候補

4 Steps to Quality Control in Pet Food Production

How to select the right product inspection technology for every stage of pet food production

Rising to the Challenge: Combating Costs and Increasing Productivity

Safety and Quality: The Foundation of Pet Food Production

Upholding Regulatory Compliance: Meeting Standards Every Step of the Way

Stage 1: Incoming Goods - Quality from the Start

Stage 2: Mixing - Maintaining Consistency and Safety

Stage 3: Filling - Precision and Accuracy

Stage 4: Packaging - Protecting Product Integrity

ProdX - The Next Level in Product Safety

Happy Pets Starts with Product Inspection

Happy Pets Start with Product Inspection

About the Author

Related Content

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