How Food Safety Magnets Ensure Pet Food Safety

Just as with human food, pet food production must adhere to strict safety standards to prevent contamination and ensure the product’s nutritional integrity. One of the most effective tools in maintaining food safety in the pet food industry is the use of high intensity magnetic separators—specially designed to remove ferrous metal contaminants and work-hardened stainless steel from pet food during manufacturing and before final product packaging. In this blog, we explore the role of food safety magnets in pet food processing, how they work, the types of magnets used, and why they’re an essential component of pet food quality control.

What Are Food Safety Magnets?

Food safety magnets are high-powered magnets that attract and remove ferrous (iron-based) metal particles and work-hardened stainless steel fragments that may be inadvertently introduced during production. These particles can come from machinery, production equipment, or raw materials. Food processing magnets aim to provide preventative measures to reduce the risk of these harmful metal contaminants from ending up in the final product, ensuring that pet food is safe for consumption and brands are protected.

Ferrous metals in food products, including pet food, can pose several risks. Aside from the obvious safety hazard, metal contamination can damage equipment and lead to costly recalls. Metal pieces in pet food can also cause serious health issues, including choking, injury to the digestive tract, or potential poisoning.

Food magnets are a critical safety feature in pet food manufacturing because they help prevent these risks, allowing manufacturers to meet industry standards for safety and quality.

How Do Food Safety Magnets Work?

Food safety magnets work by using powerful magnetic fields to attract and capture ferrous metal particles during various stages of food processing and prior to the packaging stages. They’re strategically placed in key areas of the production line where metal contaminants are most likely to enter the process, such as at product intakes, as well as at locations where damage to machinery can be prevented, and lastly, at locations prior to packing to ensure maximum foreign metal fragment control is achieved. Different types of food safety magnets exist, and their specific design will depend on the stage of production, application specifics and the nature of the product.

Food processing magnets typically use permanent magnets made from rare earth materials and create a magnetic field that attracts and captures most ferrous metal particles on its surface. Magnets are manufactured in a variety of designs, such as a grate, plate, spherical, bullet-type or bar. The magnetic fields can be customized in strength and configuration to suit the specific needs of the pet food application.

In the case of bulk ingredients, like meat, grains, or vegetables, food safety magnets may be installed on conveyor belts, screw outlets, hoppers, or intake areas to catch any metal fragments that may have been introduced during transportation or handling. Magnets also should be used in the final stages of production, before packaging, to ensure metal contamination is reduced as far as possible before reaching the consumer.

Food processing magnets may be designed for various food forms, from dry kibble to wet food and treats. Each stage of production has unique requirements, and magnets should be strategically placed where they’re most effective in capturing metal contaminants and improving product quality.

Types of Food Safety Magnets

Several types of food processing magnets are used in the pet food industry; each designed for a specific function or production stage. The most common types include, but are not limited to:

Grate or Drawer Magnets 

Grate or drawer magnets are often used in dry product lines and consist of a series of magnetic bars arranged in a grid pattern. These bars create a magnetic field that attracts ferrous metal particles as food passes through the grate.

Plate Magnets 

Plate magnets are flat, rectangular magnets typically designed to be installed in chutes, ducting or at product discharge points. The plate’s magnetic surface draws in metal contaminants as product flows past it. Plate magnets are commonly used for equipment protection or in high-tonnage product flow applications.

Liquid Magnets 

These magnets are designed for use with liquid or semi-liquid pet food products. They’re typically installed in pipes or tubes and can remove ferrous metal particles from liquid pet foods, including sauces or gravies that may accompany some types of canned or wet pet food, as well as meat emulsions and slurries.

Suspended Magnets 

Suspended magnets are mounted above a conveyor line, and as food travels underneath them, metal contaminants are drawn upward into the magnet’s magnetic field. These magnets are typically used when food is in free-flowing bulk, such as dry kibble or treats.

Rotary Magnets 

Rotary magnets consist of rotating grate magnets in a housing that continually attract and remove metal particles as the product drops via gravity feed through the rotating grate. These magnets ensure food safety during large-scale production and are especially used in difficult to flow materials.

Why Are Food Processing Magnets Essential for Pet Food Safety?

Below are a few reasons why food processing magnets are crucial for pet food safety:

Reduces risk of Contamination

Ferrous metals and work-hardened stainless steel, such as washers, nails, screws, bolts, and metal shavings, can contaminate pet food during the manufacturing process. Even minute metal particles can pose a significant safety risk. Food safety magnets are designed to capturemost, if not all these contaminants, before they can reach the final product, significantly reducing the risk of injury or illness.

Maintains Equipment Integrity 

Metal contamination poses a danger to the consumer and can also damage production equipment. Metal contaminants can cause wear and tear on machinery, leading to increased maintenance costs and the potential for costly downtime. Food processing magnets maintain production efficiency by removing metal contaminants early in the production process reducing the risk of extensive damage to expensive machinery.

Ensures Compliance With Industry Regulations 

Pet food safety is tightly regulated by agencies like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), and international bodies like the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). These organizations set strict food safety guidelines, including metal contamination limits. Food safety magnets help manufacturers comply with these regulations and avoid product recalls, fines, or reputational damage.

Improves Product Quality 

Pet owners expect the highest quality food for their pets, and food safety magnets play a crucial role in maintaining that quality. By removing as much metal contamination as is possible, the overall quality of the product is increased or maintained, fostering trust with consumers and brand loyalty.

Ensure Pet Food Safety With Magnattack®

Need a surefire way to enhance the safety of your production process? Good news—our Emulsion and Slurry Pipeline Separators are specifically designed to address the unique challenges of high-viscosity wet petfoodproducts. With over 50 years of food processing magnet expertise, we know what it takes to ensure product safety. Don’t compromise when it comes to our furry friends—choose Magnattack® for unmatched quality, reliability, and peace of mind…. Every time.