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It is an exciting thing when a company is on a growth path: new markets, opportunities to deliver new and improved products, the chance to create more customer value. All of this contributes to a compelling corporate vision. In the food industry, however, this opportunity also brings new challenges – both market-related and food law-related.

The customer Nutradried Creations

Nutradried Creations, based in Blaine, Washington, is a leading company that uses state-of-the-art technology to produce durable, healthy snacks from natural and whole ingredients.

The company's success story shows that it is about more than just profit. 

Nutradried Creations has a message that is both compelling and simple: The purpose and mission of Nutradried Creations lies in creating a Triple Bottom Line:

  1. By selling environmentally friendly and socially responsible products, it should be ensured that the customer receives the best possible food.
  2. With a social corporate culture and
  3. through the innovative use of the patented Nutradried process, people's lives should be simplified and profits for shareholders ensured.

The social component is evident, for example, through existing partnerships with organizations such as Agros International, a non-profit organization in Seattle that supports financially weak farmers in purchasing their own land through low-interest loans.

This helps farmers escape a cycle of poverty that has lasted for generations. By exclusively purchasing fair-trade raw materials, Nutradried enters into a partnership with suppliers to offer a fair price for a good product. This also helps farmers provide their children with a better future through financial security and education.

The success is impressive: Together with Agros, Nutradried Creations has already helped build 42 villages, supported 24,000 farmers, and thus ensured their survival.

In Ethiopia, the company is currently doing similar work by supporting local small dairies that also supply food to local orphanages, thus providing economic opportunities on site. To achieve these and other goals, Nutradried Creations needs suppliers whose expertise they can fully trust on both the operational and processing sides.

The HACCP Challenge

In addition to new expectations from customers, Nutradried Creations must also meet the increased requirements of the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in recent years, with the strict HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) requirements being the most significant. When inspectors visit the food manufacturer, they expect solid evidence that a hazard analysis has been conducted. Furthermore, a plan is required that includes the identified critical control points (CCPs) and their critical limits. CCP monitoring processes, which ensure that the HACCP system functions as intended, must also be implemented. 

However, FDA reviews mostly focus on corrective actions. A plant's HACCP plan requires corrective actions to be taken when a limit is not met. If this is the case, the corrective actions should ensure that no product leaves the plant that does not meet the standards or is potentially even harmful to health. 

Sesotec's foreign body inspection systems ensure HACCP, BRC, and IFS compliant production.

The Goal

"We must offer our customers absolute assurance that the products we manufacture for them are safe and free from contamination," said Phil Fraley, the plant manager of Nutradried Creations. "This is especially important for a company with the high aim of supporting the economically disadvantaged."

Through collaboration with Sesotec, Nutradried Creations has more security when it comes to preparing for a customer audit. "We want to be prepared," says Phil. "We want our customers to have confidence in the business relationship with us."

X-ray inspection system RAYCON

In addition to metal detection, the RAYCON product inspection system performs an extended product analysis. It detects contaminants that might escape other systems. Glass, ceramics, stones, and bones in food can be problematic for a technically less sophisticated system. RAYCON also detects higher density plastics such as PVC and rubber, and identifies other product defects such as cracks, missing parts, and underweight.

Optimal detection results can also be ensured by masking packaging components such as aluminum clips on stand-up pouches or aluminum trays if necessary. The unique edge filter technology of the RAYCON systems also compensates for dense packaging edges of carton walls, yet still detects foreign bodies in these areas. With RAYCON, a 100% packaging inspection is always guaranteed. On this basis, users like Nutradried Creations can work with confidence. 

The innovative software of the RAYCON system also offers numerous advantages. With two internal industrial PCs each with Compact Flash storage, there are no error-prone mechanical components anymore. A Linux operating system – known worldwide as a very robust industrial platform – guarantees the full processing power of the special image analysis computer to find the smallest foreign substances in food products. Ultimately, the electronics are also modular and robust. No UPS is required to protect the system, the system is easily accessible and thus offers lower operating costs.

The Future

Due to the partnership with Sesotec, Nutradried Creations is now able to seek larger partners, including larger retail chains. "This is a potentially great growth opportunity for Nutradried Creations," emphasizes Phil, "We benefit from collaborating with partners who share our commitment and visions." 

Phil and the team at Nutradried Creations remain committed to delivering high-quality products that benefit people around the world. By collaborating with a partner like Sesotec, they are confident in achieving their ambitious goals. 

Nutradried Creations is a company with dedicated experts who firmly believe that a solid business relationship is built on mutual give and take. Understandably, the company is proud to produce quality food while considering the inseparable fair treatment of farmers. But Nutradried wants more. At Nutradried Creations, the future begins now.

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