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08.06.2022 - Foods

Joint EU recommendation on mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOAH) in food including infant formula

On April 21, 2022, the draft of the "Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed Section Novel Foods and Toxicological Safety of the Food Chain" (SCoPAFF) for a joint recommendation of the EU on the presence of aromatic mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOAH) in food, including food for infants and young children (FCP/016/22), was published.

It is recommended that products should be recalled or withdrawn from the market if necessary, if MOAH are detected above the established limits of quantification (LOQ) in the respective food products. The recall or withdrawal should be based on Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002 (General Food Law) and as soon as the sum of MOAH concentrations reaches or exceeds the following LOQs:

-          0.5 mg/kg for dry foods with 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.

We will keep you informed of further developments.

In our Tentamus laboratories, we regularly conduct investigations for mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOSH/POSH/MOAH). We provide you with fast and reliable results.

For questions, our customer advisors are at your disposal.

Sources: 

Food Association Germany - https://www.lebensmittelverband.de 

Link to "Update of Recommended Orientation Values for Mineral Oil Hydrocarbons (MOH) in Foods" https://www.lebensmittelverband.de/de/aktuell/20211026-aktualisierung-moh-orientierungswerte 

Link to the recommendation: https://ec.europa.eu/food/system/files/2022-05/reg-com_toxic_20220421_sum.pdf