Optical sorting is an automated inspection method that uses cameras, lasers or near-infrared sensors to detect colour, shape and surface defects in food products, ejecting substandard pieces with precisely timed air jets.
In trade practice
Processors configure optical sorters with product-specific programmes that define acceptable colour ranges and size profiles; these settings are validated at the start of each production run and logged for traceability. For berries and cut fruit, optical sorting typically follows a manual pre-sort to remove gross contamination that could overwhelm the machine. QA teams periodically sample the reject stream to confirm the sorter is not discarding acceptable product, and the accept stream to verify defect removal rates. Buyers auditing a facility should ask to see sorter calibration records and reject-stream data.
In a specification
A specification may require that optical sorting equipment be used as a named processing step, with documented calibration frequency and a stated maximum defect level in the finished product verified by post-sort sampling.