Patent ID: 7631767

Claim:
A method of separating fragments following breakage of plastic equipment in a food processing line, the equipment being made from a plastic moulding composition which contains magnetic oxides or ferrites capable of separating by magnetic separation by either magnetic separator (magnets) or magnetic detection (metal detection), comprising: exposing food items contaminated with loose fragments of the moulded equipment to a magnetic separator or magnets and separation by magnetic attraction the fragments from the food items; and exposing the food items contaminated with fragments either packaged or embedded in the food of the moulded equipment to a magnetic detector (metal detection equipment) and separating by rejecting the food detected as containing the offending food product contaminated with detectable particles, thereby recovering the food free of contamination, wherein a dry carrier material is utilized for conveying the food items which is continuously recycled, exposing the dry carrier to a magnetic separator for removing fragments of the moulded equipment thereby recovering the dry carrier material free of contamination, and wherein the magnetic oxides and ferrites are capable of separation by magnetic separation, and the magnetic oxides and ferrites are provided in the moulding composition for the equipment of the food processing line in a concentration of 20-50% by weight of the moulded equipment to enable the removal of moulding polymer fragments by the magnetic separator and fragments to be detected by magnetic detection that may be embedded in the food or contained in packaged food.