Mosh & Moah in packaging materials
Both food producers and manufacturers of packaging materials intended for the food industry feel pressure from different directions to change or improve aspects of their processes. Changing legislation, newly emerging hazards such as MOSH and MOAH, and ethical questions around sustainability are behind this.
Joyce Buysse
Mineral oils
The presence of mineral oils in some foodstuffs is receiving considerable attention. Research into the cause, analytical methods and standards is still in its infancy. Mineral oils are difficult to analyse and interpreting the analysis results is no straightforward matter. Mineral oils are a group of carbon atoms of non-plant origin. Saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH, mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons) and aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH, mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons) are both found in mineral oils. MOAH is suspected of being carcinogenic. MOSH is thought to accumulate in the body and could lead to liver failure and tumour growth. As this concerns a whole group of molecules, further research into the potential toxicity of these hydrocarbons is still ongoing.
Food companies have recently been confronted with the possible presence of this still poorly understood hazard in their products, usually under pressure from the retail sector. They are asked about the measures taken to limit mineral oils, or limits are imposed on them. Although the packaging material is often linked to the problem as the source, there are other sources of contamination that also need to be taken into account. Plant-based products are often contaminated with mineral oils via exhaust fumes from tractors and harvesting equipment. Contamination can also occur during processing, through contact with lubricants.
Legislation
European or Belgian legislation on MOSH and MOAH has not yet been established, but Germany has already prepared a draft in which no limit is proposed for MOSH, but one is proposed for MOAH, namely 0.5 mg/kg of foodstuff, and which requires the use of a functional barrier in the packaging material. The retail sector often imposes stricter limits or requirements.
To arrive at the right solutions and be able to take the correct precautionary measures, carrying out a risk analysis is essential.
Do you still have questions about mineral oils and migration from packaging materials? Contact us!
