14.12.2016

Mineral oils in advent calendars: LGL Bayern investigates MOSH/MOAH

In recent years, the issue of mineral oils in advent calendars has come into focus increasingly often, due to the work of Stiftung Warentest, among others. Now the Bavarian Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit (LGL) has investigated advent calendars for mineral oil contamination. Five different articles were analysed, with attention being paid to both the packaging and the chocolate. The results were published at the request of Foodwatch.

Traces of Mineral Oil Saturated Hydrocarbons (MOSH) were found in all cardboard packaging as well as in all chocolates. For the LGL, the fact that the majority of the MOSH found in the chocolate consisted of the low volatility fraction, with more than 24 carbon atoms (>C24) indicated that the possibility that there had been some transfer from the packaging to the chocolate via the vapour space could be excluded. A transfer of shorter chain (higher volatility) MOSH belonging to the ≤ C24 fraction from the packaging to the chocolate is still a possibility, but the ≤ C24 MOSH fraction was in all cases below the threshold of 2 mg/kg which has been proposed in the draft for the new mineral oil regulation.

In the chocolates which came from three of the five calendars under investigation, Mineral Oil Aromatic Hydrocarbons (MOAH) were also found. Transfer from the packaging can however be excluded as a possibility, as no MOAH were found in the packaging. With respect to this issue, the LGL also emphasised that all packaging consisted of virgin board and that printing ink containing mineral oil had been avoided. In this regard, producers had met their obligations to reduce possible pathways by which contaminants might enter. It was not possible to conclusively identify other sources for the MOSH /MOAH contamination, which cannot be excluded.

According to LGL, the concentrations of MOSH which have been identified do not constitute a health hazard. In the case of the MOAH, LGL is unable to make a hazard assessment due to a lack of toxicological data. MOAH in particular are suspected of being carcinogenic and mutagenic.

ifp offers service testing of MOSH/MOAH by HPLC coupled with GC. Contact us for further information.

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