On May 17, 2022, the European Commission’s Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed (PAFF) published a summary report explaining that it was instituting recommended limits on the presence of mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH) in food, effective immediately. However, while the commission has set the limits and calls for products to be withdrawn or recalled when food products are at or above those limits, they are not legally binding. It is left up to the Member States to enforce the change. MOAH is now technically limited to:
- 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
Previously in Europe, limits on mineral oil hydrocarbons were only set for infant formula. The European Commission began reviewing MOAH after an investigation by civil society organization foodwatch, which found MOAH in 12% of tested products at levels up to 82 mg/kg of food (FPF reported). The organization called for the EC to adopt a zero-tolerance rule for MOAH and calls the recent decision “a crucial step for food safety, but not sufficient enough.” According to reporting from Food Navigator, lawyer Cesare Varallo wonders about the impacts on manufacturers, stating “it is a tough move for industry.”
Mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOH) can contaminate food through its presence in food packaging, processing equipment, and food additives. Food packaging made of paper and board is especially known to often contain high levels of these compounds, which originate from mineral-oil-based, non-food grade newspaper inks. Mineral oil mixtures can have varying levels of toxicity, with MOAH being the most toxic fraction due to its mutagenicity and carcinogenicity. Levels of MOH have been monitored in food packaging in the EU since 2017 (FPF reported). In Switzerland, the use of recycled paper in food contact materials is banned due to concerns about MOH contamination, and in Germany a specific migration limit of 0.5 mg/kg food for MOAH has been recommended (FPF reported).
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is expected to publish an opinion on MOAH later in 2022.
Reference
PAFF (April 21, 2022). “Draft joint statement of the Member States regarding the presence of Mineral Oil Aromatic Hydrocarbons (MOAH) in food, including food for infants and young children.” European Commission
Read More
Flora Southey (May 24, 2022). “’A tough move for industry’: Europe sets MOAH limits in food effective immediately.” Food Navigator
Foodwatch (May 30, 2022). “EU proposes limits for mineral oils in food products.”
