Apparatus for detecting contaminants in food

An apparatus for detecting contaminants in food comprising: a transfer means for transferring the food through an inspection zone, a photographing means for photographing the surface of the food from one side of said inspection zone when it passes through said inspection zone, a plurality of lighting means for illuminating the food from one side or both sides of said inspection zone across said transfer means, and an image processing means for processing the picked up image of the surface of the food including converting the image into a binary-valued image, whereby an abnormal picture element exceeding a pre-established threshold value of darkness is detected in the binary-valued image obtained through image processing by said image processing means, then picture elements adjacent said abnormal picture element are inspected whether abnormal or not, detection of abnormal picture element or elements adjacent the detected abnormal picture element or elements is repeated, and when abnormal picture elements conti