EU working group on FCMs: New meeting summary

EU Commission’s working group on FCMs discusses migration testing guidelines, 7th amendment to plastic FCM regulation, mineral oil migration, authorization of recycling processes, and EFSA opinion on safety assessment of FCMs

Mineral oils: Toxicity, exposure possibly underestimated

Scientific study compares accumulation of mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH) in rats to humans; findings imply that current acceptable daily intake for MOSH may be set too high and current human exposure is underestimated

French retailers restrict mineral oils in food

Six French retailers set limit values for MOSH and MOAH in their own-brand food products

EU plans to regulate printed FCMs

European Commission communicates intention to introduce EU-wide regulation on printing inks in food contact materials; evaluation of EU FCM framework regulation planned for 2017; study on non-harmonized FCMs to be published by the end of 2016

Mineral oils in chocolate Santas

Foodwatch study finds typical Christmas chocolates and sweets to contain mineral oil residues; demands recall of affected products

Mineral oils in Christmas chocolates

Bavarian food control authority finds MOSH and MOAH in advent calendar chocolate; Foodwatch recommends avoiding consumption of tainted products and calls for stricter regulation of mineral oils in food

Update: Foodwatch mineral oil petition

Foodwatch petition against mineral oils in food collects more than 100,000 signatures and is handed to EU Health Commissioner Andriukaitis; MOSH and MOAH contamination found in premium chocolates and doughnuts

French retailers to limit mineral oils in food

E.Leclerc and Lidl France take action against contamination of their own-brand food products with mineral oils; restrict MOAH to untraceable amounts and introduce limit values for MOSH

Concerns over mineral oils

German TV station airs report on unpublished EFSA document; toxicological consequences of mineral oil exposure allegedly exceed previous assumptions; expert recommends “drastic reduction” of exposure

EU Commission’s Working Group on FCMs

EU Working Group on FCMs discusses BPA, amendments to EU 10/2011, mineral oil migration, authorization of recycling processes, migration testing guidelines