Mineral Oil Aromatic Hydrocarbons (MOAH) levels in food, including food for infants and young children, in EU settled

Last week it was published the Summary report of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed Section Novel Food and Toxicological Safety of the Food Chain 21 April 2022 (1) where they continue the discussion started in the previous meetings regarding MOAH in food.

The Committee agreed to the statement: Draft joint statement of the Member States regarding the presence of Mineral Oil Aromatic Hydrocarbons (MOAH) in food, including food for infants and young children2

They established guide levels (they are not legal limits).The EC says that if such quantities are exceeded in foodstuffs, the products must be withdrawn from the market. Therefore, the issue is very important for all the stakeholders (producers, consumers and authorities).

Analysis and sampling should be done according to the provisions of Regulation (EC)No 333/2007 (2), using the JRC “Guidance on sampling methods, on the performance criteria for the analytical methods and on the reporting of the analytical results.

In detail

It is appropriate that Member States and food business operators perform controls on the presence of MOAH in microcrystalline wax (petroleum wax, synthetic paraffin) and its potential migration to food, to confirm whether the use of microcrystalline wax in food contact materials is a source of the contamination of food by MOAH and take, if necessary, measures to prevent the occurrence of MOAH in food. It should also be checked whether microcrystalline wax, used in food contact materials is claimed to be E905 (microcrystalline wax authorised for specific food additive uses) and, if this is the case, whether it complies with the specifications of E905, in particular as regards the presence of benzo[a]pyrene.

If the quantified presence of MOAH, which are possible genotoxic carcinogens, in food including food for infants and young children is confirmed by an official control, the products concerned should be withdrawn and, if necessary, recalled from the market on the basis of Article 14 of the General Food Law (Regulation (EC) No 178/2002), to ensure a high level of human health protection. In this regard, the Member States also stress the responsibilities of food business operators in accordance with Article 19 of the General Food Law.

In order to ensure a uniform enforcement approach throughout the EU, the Member States agreed to withdraw and, if necessary, to recall products from the market, when the sum of the concentrations of MOAH in food are at or above the following maximum LOQs: 

• 0.5 mg/kg for dry foods with a low fat/oil content (≤ 4% fat/oil) 
• 1 mg/kg for foods with a higher fat/oil content (> 4% fat/oil)
• 2 mg/kg for fats/ oils

Our labs are ISO17025 accredited to perform Mineral oil hydrocarbons MOH ( MOSH and MOAH) by HPLC-GC-FID; in food, feed, food contact materials and cosmetic raw products and cosmetics. Our experts can support you to manage the full process from sampling to root cause analysis and support to mitigation plan.

(1)Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed Section Novel Food and Toxicological Safety of the Food Chain 21 April 2022
(2)Guidance on sampling, analysis and data reporting for the monitoring of mineral oil hydrocarbons in food and food contact materials