MOAH mineral oils, suspected of being carcinogenic and genotoxic, as well as endocrine disruptors, contaminate 1 in 8 foods. This is reported by Foodwatch, which analyzed 152 products marketed in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands. But also potentially present on Italian shelves.
Mineral oils in Knorr nuts and Nutella
Analyses conducted by the consumer protection organization detected MOAH(mineral oil aromatichydrocarbons) residues in 19 products, 12.5 percent of the sample. Contamination levels range from 0.63 mg/kg to 82 mg/kg.
Other products include several batches of Unilever’s Knorr stock cubes sold in the 5 countries and found to be highly contaminated. One batch of Nutella, sold in Germany, was also found to be contaminated with 2.3 mg/kg MOAH.
Appeal to the European Commission
Foodwatch has been documenting MOAH contamination of numerous foods, such as rice, pasta, chocolate, and edible oils, since 2015. These substances are also found in packaging, children’s toys, animal feed and cosmetics. The one just published is the third test and shows that nothing has changed.
‘Products tested positive must be withdrawn immediately. In addition, Health and Food Safety Commissioner Stella Kyriakides and EU member state decision makers must protect all consumers by adopting a zero-tolerance rule for MOAH contamination in all food categories across the EU‘, thunders the consumer rights organization.
Insufficient limits
Foodwatch’s second test, in November 2019, showed the presence of the dangerous MOAH mineral oils in several dairy products, including products from Nestlé, Danone, and Novalac.
As a result, in June 2020, the European Commission and member states set a limit of 1 mg/kg to the presence of MOAH in infant formula.
An insufficient measure, Foodwatch claims, given the ubiquity of these contaminants. (1)
MOSH mineral oils, liver damage
In addition to the more dangerous MOAH mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons, Foodwatch’s analysis found the presence of MOSH(mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons), which can accumulate in human tissues and cause adverse liver effects.
MOSHs were detected above the quantification limit of 0.5 mg/kg in 140 of 152 products, or more than 9 out of 10 (92 percent). Product contamination levels range from 0.5 mg/kg to 1152 mg/kg. There is no limit for this type of contaminant.
The origin of contamination
Sources of mineral oil contamination are varied and scattered throughout the production chain, from raw material to processing and packaging.
‘It is up to producers to identify and eliminate them throughout the food production, transportation and distribution chain so that they can ensure that only products without the presence of MOAH in detectable amounts are sold,’ the consumer protection organization concludes.
The report is available at this link.
Marta Strinati
Notes
(1) See also.
- Marta Strinati. Extra virgin olive oil at the supermarket, the Que Choisir test. GIFT(Great Italian Food Trade). 2.7.21 https://www.greatitalianfoodtrade.it/consum-attori/olio-extra-vergine-di-oliva-al-supermercato-il-test-di-que-choisir
- Marta Strinati and Dario Dongo, Pesto ‘alla genovese’ with pesticides and mineral oils, Ökotest’s analysis. GIFT(Great Italian Food Trade). 10.8.20 https://www.greatitalianfoodtrade.it/sicurezza/pesto-alla-genovese-con-pesticidi-e-oli-minerali-le-analisi-di-%C3%B6kotest
Professional journalist since January 1995, he has worked for newspapers (Il Messaggero, Paese Sera, La Stampa) and periodicals (NumeroUno, Il Salvagente). She is the author of journalistic surveys on food, she has published the book "Reading labels to know what we eat".
