FoodEurope Issue 4 2016

56
analysis & control
Mineral oil residues in food
Potentially harmful to health, components from mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOSH/MOAH) present
in the inks and adhesives used in food packaging may migrate, exposing consumers to risk. Constance
Voigt of SGS Institut Fresenius discusses this topical issue for food manufacturers.
Harmful substances, including
mineral oil hydrocarbons, can find
their way into food through direct
or indirect contact. The risk of
contamination rises or falls
depending on the food, pollutant
concentration, and on the type,
intensity and duration of contact,
as well as on storage
temperatures.
Mineral oil hydrocarbon
contamination comes in two forms:
n Mineral Oil Saturated
Hydrocarbons (MOSH)
n Mineral Oil Aromatic
Hydrocarbons (MOAH).
MOSH/MOAH sources
Cardboard packaging, a food
industry favourite, is used across a
wide variety of products, for
numerous purposes. For example,
to protect and transport dry,
durable products such as pasta,
rice, semolina, baking mixtures,
high-fat products and
confectionery. But cardboard is not
the only potential source of
MOSH/MOAH contamination.
Paperboard and corrugated
cardboard or recycled paper and
newsprint are widespread and may
be potential entry sources for
contamination in food. In addition,
manufacturing processes may
provide others, for example,
mineral oil is frequently used as a
lubricant or release agent during
food and food packaging
production. Looking back further
along the supply chain, it is also
possible for MOSH/MOAH
substances to enter a foodstuff
during production. During
harvesting or transport, for
instance.
No limits
MOSH/MOAH contamination was
identified and rose to prominence
in 2010, when it was recognised by
food authorities in . Since then,
regulatory authorities, the food
industry and food laboratories
have worked together to identify
the issues, sources and strategies
to minimise contamination risks.
Despite this work, there is
currently no EU-wide regulatory
framework nor are there binding
tolerance values for
MOSH/MOAH contaminants in
food.
However, in Germany, the Federal
Institute for Risk Assessment
(Bundesinstitut für
Risikobewertung, BfR) has
used its research and expertise
to recommend three reference
values, to help the food
industry reduce risk. These
are:
n 12mg/kg for MOSH with
carbon chain lengths of C10 to
C16
n 4mg/kg for MOSH with a
chain length of C17 to C20
carbon atoms
n No maximum permitted level
has so far been recommended
for MOSH with a carbon chain
length of C20 to C35.
The toxicology of individual
compounds is evaluated differently
among the MOAH but it is not
currently possible to analyse
compounds and determine which
are high-risk and which are riskfree.
Hence, the difficulty in
setting maximum levels for mineral
oil residues in food.
Minimising transfer risk
Since 2010, products
contaminated with MOSH/MOAH
have come under increasing
scrutiny. In 2012, the German
consumer organisation, Stiftung
Warentest, first referred to
MOSH/MOAH residue in
children’s chocolate advent
calendars over the Christmas
period in 2012. Since then, other
German non-governmental
organisations (NGOs) have
www.foodmagazine.eu.com issue four | 2016