Safeguarding your value chain through MOSH/MOAH analysis

Whether MOSH, MOAH , POSH or PAO , we use state-of-the-art chromatography to quickly and reliably check for possible contamination of your raw materials by mineral oils even during the processing stage.

ServicesTest laboratoryChemical and physicalMOSH-MOAH

From agriculture to packaging, sources of contamination are diverse

Contamination by mineral oil residues can have a variety of causes

Already during the cultivation and harvesting of plants, inputs into the product can occur through pesticides or harvesting machinery. These can add up over the processing chain right through to packaging. Early analysis during logistics and processing can help to identify sources of contamination at an early stage, optimize processes quickly and reliably, and avoid costs resulting from the further processing of unsuitable raw materials. With our rush analytics, this can be done in just a few hours, enabling us to respond to the industry's special requirements in terms of speed and time-to-market.

Our competence in MOSH/MOAH analysis

We are the leading laboratory in Germany in the development and performance of MOSH/MOAH analysis. Already in 2011, we developed this, in close collaboration with Konrad Grob and his staff at the Zurich Cantonal Laboratory. Within the Mérieux NutriScience group, we are now the leading international reference laboratory for mineral oil analysis. A competence that we continuously develop through participation in interlaboratory comparisons and international projects. Our analytics are based on the guidelines of the BfR as well as the 2019 guidance document on analytics within the framework of the European mineral oil monitoring in food and food contact materials of the Joint Research Center of the European Commission.

Service packages

  • HPLC-GC-FID analytics
    • of food and packaging (paper and cardboard, plastic films) 
    • of food simulants (migration test in MPPO (Tenax® and oil) 
    • The use of HPLC-GC-FID technology enables us to determine the content of aromatic mineral oil components (MOAH), MOSH (mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons) and MOSH analogs such as synthetic lubricants or adhesive components.
    • The substance groups are quantified by coupling with an FID detector.
  • GCxGC-TOF-MS analytics
    • Validation of positive results
    • Further characterization of mineral oil components 
    • The use of GCxGC-TOF-MS technology after separation of MOSH and MOAH allows us with higher sensitivity, to

      (1) Separate and detect petroleum hydrocarbons (MOSH or MOAH) in complex mixtures from other hydrocarbons (synthetic oligomers such as POSH or naturally-occurring terpenes).
      (2) Identify the source of contamination (polyolefins, adhesives, ink formulations or lubricating oils) based on structural information e.g. on the number of aromatic nuclei or isomers present.
      (3) Identification of the degree of alkylation of aromatics

    • Confirmation of our expertise in GCxGC-TOF-MS analysis by certified participation in a round robin test of PROOF-ACS GmbH
  • Material testing: testing the barrier properties of packaging
    • The transfer from the packaging into the food can occur by migration due to direct contact or in gaseous form by evaporation from the packaging material and subsequent recondensation on the food 
  • Direct and special migration tests of packages
    • The transfer from the packaging into the food can occur by migration due to direct contact or in gaseous form by evaporation from the packaging material and subsequent recondensation on the food
  • Process analytics
    • Sampling and analysis of compressed air in food production plants, based on the BfR method of 2009 and DIN EN 16995

Matrices

Our methodology is accredited for testing cereals and dry by-products, pasta, cocoa products, cheese, cocoa butter, paper and cardboard. 

In addition, the method can be applied to fish, bakery products, meat, animal and vegetable fats.

 

Webinars

Working Groups

  • DIN Working group
    • Plastic utensils in contact with foodstuffs – Examining the migration from plastics
  • Joint Committee of DIN and DGF
    • Analysis of fats, oils, fat products, related substances and raw materials (GA Fat)

Analytics & Guidelines

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