In Tokyo, Kromek, a UK based platform technology company has launched a radiation detector specifically made for the food industry to check if it is safe for consumption.
In March last year, an earthquake and tsunami left Japan devastated and at risk from radiation following a leak from the Fukushima nuclear plant, when three reactors went into meltdown.
The Food Inspector distinguishes between natural background and man-mad radiation in food making it much more accurate than other detectors on the market.
It uses Kromek’s advanced detector technology to distinguish between man-made hazardous radiation sources in the environment (such as those from the Fukushima disaster) and typical background radiation.
Food Inspector is being launched as a ‘best in breed’ device that differs from competitor products through its ability to shield the food being tested from typical background radiation meaning that it provides more accurate and faster readings for both supplier and retail outlets.
Using touch screen technology, it also offers the first highly user-friendly software interface making it intuitive to use with little training required. In comparison, due to their complexity, existing competitor products currently in the market tend to be used predominantly by scientists in laboratories.
Sample measurement takes less than five minutes. When the measurement is complete, a simple display of the measured levels of radiation in the food is displayed on-screen.
Arnab Basu, Kromek’s chief executive officer said: We have designed the Food Inspector to assist the food retail chain in their efforts to demonstrate the safety of food with a fast, accurate and highly cost-effective system. The system is very easy to use, requires minimal training and will stimulate confidence in both suppliers and customers in the food retail chain and ensure regulatory requirements are fully met”.
