Recycling and risk

The issue of Mineral Oil Hydrocarbons (MOHs) migration into foods continues to grow. Not all news on this issue is consistent and it is another challenge to packaging technologists.

MOHs are by-products of crude oil refinement used in inks, adhesives, lubricants, plasticisers and protective coatings. When ink is applied to a surface like newspaper, the mineral oils absorb and attach to the paper fibre. Most of the oil attached to the fibre remains once the newspaper enters the recycle stream.

Mineral oils can accumulate in organs and endanger human health. Results from a 2010 survey of German supermarket products indicated 75% exceeded EU safe limits.

Major food manufacturers changed their packaging amid concerns over the long-term health hazards of MOHs leaching from recycled cardboard into foods. UK breakfast cereal producers Kellogg’s, Weetabix and Jordans all took steps to change their packaging.

In 2011, the Confederation of European Paper Industries and the International Conederation of Paper and Board Converters announced a commitment to phase out printing inks with mineral oils for printing paper and board packaging.

In 2012, the UK Food Standards Agency published a survey concluding that consumers need not be concerned.

To add to the cloudiness, the European Food Safety Authority published a report on human exposure to mineral oils. Their experts on the Contaminants in the Food Chain panel identified some potential concerns regarding exposure to MOH through food. However, they highlighted several uncertainties regarding the chemical composition of MOH mixtures and a lack of toxicological studies. The EFSA called for an overhaul of Acceptable Daily Intake levels and suggested new measures to assess and monitor the risk from the substances.

Packaging companies in Europe have been promoting that they have products that have effective barriers against MOHs.

Consumer product companies have started demanding that packaging suppliers provide certification that any recycled paper they are using has at least low levels of mineral oil, if not free of it.

This is not the end of this issue. While we are advocates for recycling and recycled content in our packaging, this is an issue for packaging technologists to grasp quickly. The solution is to gain knowledge, work closely with packaging suppliers and understand all steps of your packaging supply chain.