Abstract: Inclusions such as encysted parasites and spoilage in food products such as fish fillets are detected by immersing the food products in a bath of an electrolyte, such as a saline solution, having substantially the same electrical conductivity as the uncontaminated food product. An electrical current passed through the electrolyte also passes through the food product. Perturbations in the resulting magnetic field produced by the discontinuities in conductivity at the boundaries of the inclusions or of the spoiled article which have substantially different conductivities from that of the electrolyte and unspoiled food products, provide an indication of the presence of the contamination. Production line inspection rates are achieved by conveying the food products through a container filled with electrolyte and past an array of stationary magnetometers.

Abstract: A method for examining an edible product, such as fresh fish flesh, for dielectric inclusions, such as encysted parasites. The product is subjected to a current flow, which may be perturbed or deviated by any hidden inclusions. An electromagnetic effect of perturbed current flow is detected. In a preferred implementation, one or more scans of the external magnetic consequences of the effect of an inclusion allows the discovery and removal of the inclusion.