Testing services / Mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOSH/POSH and MOAH) - migration/extractable content

Mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOSH/POSH and MOAH) - migration/extractable content

Analysis of migration of mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOH), including mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH) with polyolefin oligomeric hydrocarbons (POSH) and mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH) from food contact materials (FCM) into a food simulant.

The results are reported as the concentrations of fractions of MOSH/POSH and MOAH, with grouping based on the number of carbon atoms in the substances. The reported fractions are listed in the table below:

MOSH/POSH (C10-C50), total	MOAH (C10-C50), total*
MOSH/POSH (≥C10-≤C16)	MOAH (≥C10-≤C16)
MOSH/POSH (>C16-≤C20)	MOAH (>C16-≤C25)
MOSH/POSH (>C20-≤C25)	MOAH (>C25-≤C35)
MOSH/POSH (>C25-≤C35)	MOAH (>C35-≤C50)
MOSH/POSH (>C35-≤C40)
MOSH/POSH (>C40-≤C50)

* Reporting of "MOAH (C10-C35), total" possible upon request (for evaluating paper/board for BfR XXXVI compliance)

The migration can be measured either via conventional migration or via aqueous/solvents extractions (in case of non-coated paper):

Migration method	Available simulants	Applicable standard	Typical reporting limit*
Conventional migration	water, 3% acetic acid, 10%, 20%, 50%, and 95% ethanol, isooctane	EN 13130-1	5 µg/dm²
Conventional migration	olive oil	EN 13130-1	2 µg/dm²
Conventional migration	Tenax	EN 13130-1 EN 14338	5 µg/dm²
Aqueous extract	water	EN 645 EN 647	0.03 mg/l of extract
Solvent extract	95% ethanol, isooctane	EN 15519	0.03 mg/l of extract

* Reporting limit can be higher in case of interference from the sample

POSH are not part of MOH but can be present in polyolefin plastics, such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). MOSH and POSH have very similar structures and they tend to elute together in chromatography. Thus in polyolefin plastics and materials with polyolefin layers, it is usually impossible to separate MOSH and POSH with normal analysis techniques.

The analysis includes a compliance assessment according to the following references:

MOSH fraction:

BfR documentation: Questions and answers on mineral oil components in food (31 July 2023)

MOAH fraction:

Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed Section Novel Food and Toxicological Safety of the Food Chain 19 October 2022
BfR recommendation XXXVI (as of 01.10.2025)

Suitable sample matrices: Food contact and packaging materials and articles
Required sample quantity: 2xA4-size sheets (migration); 30 grams (aqueous or solvent extractions)
Typical turnaround time: 4 weeks after receiving the samples
Detection limit: See description
Available quality systems: Accredited test method
Device types: LC-GC-FID
Method expert: Niko Markkinen

Food contact materials

Paper and board

Compositional analysis

Price

Typical price (Excl. VAT):

417 €per sample

We also charge a 97 € service fee per order.

Large batches of samples are eligible for discounts.

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