MOSH (mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons) are a group of hydrocarbon compounds consisting primarily of saturated hydrocarbons that can occur in mineral oils and can enter food through various environmental, processing, or packaging-related sources.
MOSH are chemically diverse and can include different types of saturated hydrocarbons. In food, they may originate from sources such as lubricants, processing equipment, packaging materials, recycled paper and cardboard, or other mineral-oil-containing materials.
MOSH are commonly considered together with MOAH when assessing mineral oil hydrocarbons in food. Their presence does not by itself establish that a food is unsafe; the concentration, composition, source, exposure, and toxicological characteristics are relevant to risk assessment.
COMMONLY CONFUSED WITH
- MOAH: mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons, a chemically different fraction of mineral oil hydrocarbons.
- MOH: the broader category that includes MOSH and MOAH.
SEE ALSO
