Mineral oils (MOSH/ MOAH)
Analysis of mineral oils (MOSH/ MOAH)
Mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOH) can enter food commodities and processed products anywhere along the food processing and trade chain. At Eurofins Food & Feed Testing, we support you to ensure that your products are free from harmful levels of MOH, especially toxicologically relevant 3-7 ring MOAH, so you can meet regulatory requirements and maintain consumer trust.
Key services
- Quantitative analysis of MOSH and MOAH using online-LC-GC-FID (high laboratory capacity available)
- Mass spectrometric characterisation of MOSH and MOAH fractions using two-dimensional GCxGC-ToF-MS to elucidate the origin of the contamination
- Quantification of the tri- to polyaromatic fraction (TPAF) of MOAH using GCxGC-FID as a basis for toxicological assessment recommended by EU for confirmation of positive MOAH
- Characterisation of MOSH and MOAH profiles to distinguish between technical and naturally occurring hydrocarbons
- Screening of raw materials, intermediate and final products, including all relevant raw materials and processed food
- Verification of contamination sources, including migration from packaging or environmental exposure
- Support with product recalls and crisis management, including rapid turnaround and expert interpretation
- Customised reporting and regulatory guidance for national and international markets
Additional services
Beyond standard testing, Eurofins Food Testing UK also offers:
- Consulting on mitigation strategies, including packaging optimisation and supplier audits
- Trend monitoring and batch comparison for quality assurance and long-term safety evaluations
- Continuous development of analytical portfolio, ensuring our methods remain at the forefront of scientific and legislative standards
Your Competence Centre for organic contaminants
Eurofins WEJ Contaminants GmbH in Germany is the Eurofins Food & Feed Testing Competence Centre for the analysis of organic contaminants. Our experts have long-standing experience in the analysis of mineral oils from food matrices. With our high-capacity online LC-GC-FID, LC-GC-MS and GC×GC-ToFMS/FID systems, we have all the technical capabilities needed to reliably assess mineral oil contamination in food. Our Competence Centre's profile is completed by our extremely broad matrix expertise and many years of experience in interpreting and evaluating analytical data.
Legal framework and guidelines*
- Commission Recommendation (EU) 2017/84 (monitoring of mineral oil hydrocarbons in food and food contact materials); provides guidance on the monitoring of mineral oil hydrocarbons in food and food contact materials across the EU
- This recommendation is also used as a reference in Great Britain (GB) risk-based surveillance
- Regulation (EC) No. 1935/2004 (materials intended to come into contact with food); this framework applies in the EU and continues to apply in GB as assimilated law following EU Exit
- EFSA Opinion regarding MOAH in food; provides toxicological assessment and risk characterisation to support regulatory decision making in the EU and inform risk assessments in GB
- EU Standing Committee on Plants, Food and Feed (SC PAFF) Summary Report (2022); also considered in national approaches within GB
- EU JRC Technical Report (sampling and analysis mineral oil hydrocarbons) (2023); also considered in national approaches within GB
* Regulatory information is provided for general guidance only and may not reflect the most recent regulatory changes. Always consult official sources for up‑to‑date legislation. For market‑specific support, please contact your local Eurofins Food Testing laboratory. Our specialists offer tailored support through horizon scanning and food safety consultancy services.
Get in touch
For small batches, order our most routine testing from Eurofins Testing Direct.
Would you like to find out more about our testing solutions, access our competence centre services, or do you need tailored analytical or consultancy support?
Contact Eurofins Food Testing UK today to speak to our experts by submitting an enquiry form or calling +44 (0) 845 604 6740.