Abstract: Mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOH) can enter the food chain via many different sources. There are intended uses for food contact materials, such as waxes or adhesives, as well as for food processing machinery, such as release agents and machine or lubricant oils. In addition, unintended contamination of food with MOH can occur e.g. from printing ink residues in recycled paper and board, from batching oils for jute or sisal sacks or from contamination of animal feed, crop products, cocoa and coffee through agricultural machinery or inappropriate drying processes.
The Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM) of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recently published a draft version of an “Update of the risk assessment of mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOH) in food” for public consultation. Scientific data on toxicity of saturated MOH (MOSH) and aromatic MOH (MOAH) published since the last assessment in 2012 were evaluated. In addition, an updated exposure assessment was carried out for MOSH and MOAH based on more than 70,000 analytical results.
The talk aims to present toxicological data published in the last ten years and to compare them with earlier data. For MOSH, the focus will be on species differences between F 344 rats and humans with respect to liver toxicity and immune effects. For MOAH, new evidence will be presented regarding different concern for 1-2 ring MOAH compared to 3-7 ring MOAH. The risk assessment approach of the CONTAM Panel for MOSH and MOAH as well as remaining data gaps and possible implications for industry and analytical determination of MOSH and MOAH will be discussed.
