Eagle FA 720 fat analysis system

The Eagle FA 720 system offers accuracy in fat analysis, ensuring meat processors are supplying meat at customer-specified chemical lean (CL) values. Eagle says the product enhances contaminant detection and documentation throughout production, avoiding product recalls and improving operational processes and efficiency.

The system uses dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) technology to measure the amount of X-rays that are absorbed by the fat content and lean meat respectively. Through the use of two specific X-ray energies, it accurately calculates the CL value for meat products to within ±1 CL. This can help avoid costly fat claims and lean meat giveaway.

Eagle Validate software is an internal calibration function built into the system to verify its accuracy at specific CL values at the touch of a button. Validate software automatically records each validation in an electronic file to provide essential data to prove traceability in the event of a product recall or retailer queries about fat content.

Eagle has launched a remote touch-screen console for the system, which enables full remote system operability and displays the same information as the system’s human machine interface (HMI) to facilitate operator access to information collected on the production line. For example, an operator at the rework station, where rejected cartons of meat are sent, can access the X-ray image of the carton and identify the exact location of the contaminant, such as a bone fragment, for quick and efficient removal.