A conveyor belt including a plurality of spaced hinge rods, each of the plurality of rods including a first end and a second end; a plurality of plate elements including a first side edge and a second side edge, the plurality of plate elements overlying the spaced hinge rods such that the plurality of plate elements define a product support surface; wherein each side edge of the plate elements includes a side edge connector having a bendable retaining tab disposed at the first side edge and the second side edge and two holes for receiving a respective end of one of the hinge rods therein. The bendable retaining tab is configured to bend and thereby cover one of the two holes on the side edge connector, thereby restraining movement of the hinge rod within the respective hole.