Foreign material, also classified under the physical hazard category, can be anything from a piece of plastic, piece of glass, sampling utensils, metal shards from a piece of equipment that has broken down - it comes in many shapes and forms.
The US's FDA's guidance on hard and sharp objects defines that foreign material becomes a food safety concern if it is in the range of 7 - 25 mm.
Foreign material prevention and control is crucial in maintaining food safety. Several tools can be used to establish a successful foreign material program, including people, programs and detecting equipment. Company culture and employee participation in the prevention and control of foreign material in the end product is of the utmost importance.
** Refer to the article attached for more information on how to improve your foreign material program and awareness - to avoid costly finds, prevent product recalls and possible loss of business.