MOSH and MOAH
MOSH and MOAH refers to Mineral Oil Saturated Hydrocarbons and Mineral Oil Aromatic Hydrocarbons which are complex mixture of isomers. Essentially these mineral oils are mixtures of hydrocarbons containing thousands of chemical compounds of various sizes and structural configurations mainly derived from crude oil. These are also derived from liquefaction of coal, natural gas and biomass. MOSH are paraffin-like, open chained, commonly branched hydrocarbons (e.g., alkanes) and naphthene-like cyclic hydrocarbons (cycloalkanes). Whereas MOAH are hydrocarbons majorly consisting of highly alkylated mono- and/or poly-aromatic rings. These compounds can be found everywhere in the environment.
Where can we find these MOAH and MOSH?
- Fatty components in cosmetics products
- Food contact materials, recycled paperboard, baking cups, paper, or plastic bags
- Transport packaging materials like cardboard packages, hotmelt cardboard
- Printing colours in packaging
- Lubricating oils, surface treatment agents
- Food oils like sunflower oil, vegetable oils, other edible oils, and fats
- Other food stuffs like rice, pasta, cereal products, deep-frozen foods, bakery products and many other processed products
How do they enter food?
These mineral oil hydrocarbons especially MOSH and MOAH can migrate into foods during production and transportation and act as contaminants. The risk of contamination may be due to
- Properties of foods
- Concentration of MOSH/MOAH in the source
- Duration, quantity and type of the contact
- Temperature
Generally, these compounds are not present in the raw ingredient and therefore, they get into food during the production stages such as raw material procurement, storage, transportation, processing, and finally during packaging step.
Sources of contamination – Adhesives, printer inks, recycled packaging materials, hydraulic oils, lubricant oils, release agents, exhaust gases from the environment and industrial plants, food additives like coating agents, anti-dusting agents etc.,
Eurofins comprehensive range of services can help you in
- Brand Protection: Protect brand equity and customer loyalty by delivering healthy and safe food.
- Consumer Safety: Protect your customers from any contaminated, modified and unhealthy food.
- Compliance with Standards: Ensure your products are in compliance with local, national and international rules and regulations for food and food products.
- Ensure correct storage, shipping, packing and distribution: of commodities, food ingredients and food products.
