On July 29, 2016 the non-profit organization Foodwatch published an evaluation of mineral oil residues in food measured by German official food control authorities. Foowatch received results from five German states who in total tested 446 products for mineral oil contamination between 2011 and 2015. Foodwatch determined that 128 products (28.7%) were contaminated with mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH) and 375 products (84.1%) contained mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH). The affected products are mostly dry foods such as rice, wheat semolina, noodles, and chocolate packaged in paper or board. Foodwatch highlights that the population is neither informed of this contamination nor protected from it with legal measures. Foodwatch deems this unacceptable and urges the German Federal Minister of Food to take action. In particular, Foodwatch demands the mandatory use of functional barriers in food packaging as well as strict limit levels for mineral oils in food.
Read more
Foodwatch (July 29, 2016). “Krebsverdächtige Mineralöle in jedem vierten Lebensmittel.” (in German)
Reference
Foodwatch (July 2016). “Amtliche Kontrollen auf Mineralölverunreinigungen von Lebensmitteln 2011–2015.” (pdf; in German
