In an article published on November 23, 2016 the non-profit organization Foodwatch informs that the Bavarian Authority for Health and Food Safety (LGL) published – upon Foodwatch’s request – an evaluation of mineral oil residues in advent calendars containing chocolates. The LGL analyzed the cardboard packaging as well as the chocolates of five different advent calendars sold in German retailers. The tests were conducted in October and November 2016 and the LGL published the results on its website on November 23, 2016. The packaging and the chocolates of all five tested products contained mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH). In three products, the chocolates also contained traces of mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH). However, MOAH was not detected in any of the five products’ packaging. One relevant source of mineral oil contamination in food is primary (and secondary) packaging made from recycled paper and board, the LGL explained. However, the packaging of all five products was made from virgin fiber cardboard and used printing inks free from mineral oils, the LGL reported. Two products even used some type of functional barrier in the packaging to prevent mineral oil migration.

Foodwatch deems the revealed contamination unacceptable and recommends not to consume the chocolates of the affected advent calendars. Further, Foodwatch is discontent and disagrees with the LGL who stated on their website that the consumption of advent calendar chocolates is not of concern based on their testing results. Nevertheless, German retailer Norma pulled one of the affected advent calendars from its shelves after the publication of LGL’s results.

Read more

Foodwatch (November 23, 2016). “Gefährliches Mineralöl in Adventskalendern.(in German)

Foodwatch (November 23, 2016). “Discounter Norma ruft belastete Adventskalender zurück.(in German)

Foodwatch (November 22, 2016). “Bewilligt: Adventskalender-Tests werden veröffentlicht.(in German)

LGL (November 23, 2016). “Bestimmung von Mineralölbestandteilen in Adventskalendern – Untersuchungsergebnisse 2016.(in German)

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