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2 clusters · 6 sources · 11 days · First seen · Last updated

EU olive oil hydrocarbon contamination and regulation

Overview

Testing of olive oil samples has revealed levels of hydrocarbon contaminants, specifically Mineral Oil Hydrocarbons Aromatic (Moah) and Saturated (Mosh). While the tested products, including various major brands, remain compliant with current laws, several samples exceeded recommended thresholds for these substances, which are suspected of having carcinogenic and genotoxic properties.

In response to these findings and existing safety guidelines, the European Union is moving to establish formal legal limits for Moah in olive oil. The regulation will set an initial maximum level of 4 mg/kg effective March 1, 2027, which is scheduled to decrease to 2 mg/kg on January 1, 2028.

Industry experts, including Unifol, have highlighted the necessity of preventing contamination throughout the supply chain. Research indicates that while olives on trees show low contamination, the most critical risks occur during mechanized harvesting and milling due to potential leaks from hydraulic oils and lubricants used in machinery.

Entities

European Commission · Unifol · EFSA · Bertolli · Costa D’Oro

Timeline

  1. [BUSINESS] 4 sources
    EU to implement new MOAH limits for olive oil

    The EU will introduce new MOAH limits for olive oils, starting at 4 mg/kg in 2027 and dropping to 2 mg/kg in 2028 to mitigate contamination risks from machinery and lubricants.

  2. [HEALTH] 2 sources
    Hydrocarbon contamination found in olive oil samples

    Testing of 16 olive oil samples shows several exceed recommended hydrocarbon limits (Moah and Mosh). The EU plans to set a legal Moah limit of 4 mg/kg by 2027, which is higher than previous guidelines.

Sources

adginforma.it · horecanews.it · ilsalvagente.it · ilsannioquotidiano.it · mantovauno.it · vetrinatv.it