Impact of the latest European recommendation on food packaging
On January 16th 2017, the European Commission adopted a new recommendation (Recommendation EU 2017/84) aiming at reducing and eliminating hazardous mineral oïl components in food packaging.
This decision echoes the actions taken by the independant body FOODWATCH, which campaigned against MOSH (Mineral Oil Saturated Hydrocarbons) and MOAH (Mineral Oil Aromatic Hydrocarbons) in many food products across the Netherlands, Germany, France and Italy. MOSH and MOAH are bi-products of crude and are often present in packaging inks. They represent potential threat to human health as they easily migrate into the food. The situation is even more serious as these chemicals get more concentrated once being recycled.Industrials in the EU will now have to test different food products, including pasta and chocolate, to measure the levels of MOAH and MOSH components.
Although the new EU regulation is non-binding, a lot of multinational companies (Ferrero, Lindt) as well as supermarket chains (E. Leclerc in France and Lidl in Germany) have decided to ban all packaging containing these products.Results of the testings (conducted over 2017-2018) will lead to new decision of the EU.
This decision echoes the actions taken by the independant body FOODWATCH, which campaigned against MOSH (Mineral Oil Saturated Hydrocarbons) and MOAH (Mineral Oil Aromatic Hydrocarbons) in many food products across the Netherlands, Germany, France and Italy. MOSH and MOAH are bi-products of crude and are often present in packaging inks. They represent potential threat to human health as they easily migrate into the food. The situation is even more serious as these chemicals get more concentrated once being recycled.Industrials in the EU will now have to test different food products, including pasta and chocolate, to measure the levels of MOAH and MOSH components.
Although the new EU regulation is non-binding, a lot of multinational companies (Ferrero, Lindt) as well as supermarket chains (E. Leclerc in France and Lidl in Germany) have decided to ban all packaging containing these products.Results of the testings (conducted over 2017-2018) will lead to new decision of the EU.
ALE’S SOLUTION
ALE’s oil-based inks are mineral oil free and are proven not to contain any MOSH or MOAH chemicals.
They are safe to use in food packaging and can be offered to companies willing to follow this new regulation. Packaging coded with these inks are also 100% recyclable without risk of contamination.