Method and system for x-ray detection of flaws in containers or their contents wherein containers are conveyed on a circular path around a central axis upon which an x-ray source is situated below the plane of the base of the containers. The x-ray source emits x-ray radiation obliquely upwards through the containers to a plurality of imaging x-ray detectors. Analysis of the images provided by these x-ray detectors determines the presence of a flaw in a container or its contents and is used to command a rejection mechanism to reject the container in question.