HiPP explains “mineral oils” in foodstuffs

Traces of “mineral oil residues” in various foodstuffs are a current topic and are causing uncertainty among many parents.

Harmful substances have no place in baby food or formula. That’s why we at HiPP have always been following one rule when it comes to our formulae – they must meet the HiPP organic quality standards, which include stricter limit values than prescribed by law.

Unfortunately, the term “mineral oils” has become the general term used to describe certain hydrocarbons found in foodstuffs. It can, however, create a bad impression, making it sound as though foodstuffs were contaminated with all kinds of mineral oil-based substances such as lubricants. This is of course not the case!

Strictly speaking, this term only refers to a certain group of hydrocarbon compounds that are found in mineral oil as well as in nature. They are abbreviated as MOSH and MOAH.

Hydrocarbons are a group of substances that are naturally occurring. They can be found naturally in plants – e.g. plant wax. So they are completely harmless substances that have nothing to do with mineral oil contamination.

The targeted analysis of these compounds is very complicated – it’s always a mix of all kinds of hydrocarbons that is found. Analytically, these cannot be sufficiently distinguished. In addition to mineral oil components, chemically similar but harmless substances are also recorded – for example, natural plant waxes that have nothing to do with mineral oil. This can distort the results, making a clear evaluation difficult.

Work has been done at European level to ensure that the existing analytical method delivers consistent and reliable results. The method has been improved, but the analysis is still so complex that results from different laboratories can differ.

It would be helpful to have an analysis that only detects the undesirable mineral oil components.

MOAH is under particular discussion.

Maximum levels for MOAH are currently being discussed at European level. For infant formulae, the existing action level would be converted into a maximum level.

No MOAH was detected in the HiPP formulae tested in the 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023 Öko-Test.

HiPP also applies its own strict upper limits, which we set long before national or international lawmakers established any action values - or future limits - were defined. This means that HiPP formulae have always been and will continue to be an ideal choice for infants’ safe and healthy nutrition.

In September 2023¹, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published a new assessment of mineral oil residues in food and concluded that the current intake of MOSH is not a cause for concern. There are no health concerns associated with the current dietary intake of MOSH – this applies to all age groups. Therefore, no limits are planned for MOSH; only indication values are under discussion as a guide.

This EFSA finding also confirms the efforts made by authorities and manufacturers in recent years to continuously reduce the transfer of traces of mineral oil residues into food.

Only by means of very strict quality controls, from the raw materials right up to the finished formula, can we make our products as safe as possible for you and your baby. Every HiPP formula on the market is subject to stringent controls.

When selecting our raw materials, we also go beyond the already strict legal regulations. In accordance with the EU Organic Farming Regulation, all our products are of course also completely GMO-free.

At HiPP, we also take detecting any traces of mineral oil residues in formulae very seriously. Being a manufacturer of formulae, we do everything we can to detect and, if possible, avoid any traces of mineral oil residues. Parents can rely on our expert knowledge and years of experience.

We take action at many different points throughout the product process:

• We monitor the harvesting, storage and transport conditions of the raw materials.
• We make sure of the careful selection and processing of the raw materials. 
• At HiPP, we have set strict internal limits for our raw materials.
• Tight controls: We continuously monitor compliance with legal requirements and our internal HiPP requirements.
• HiPP collaborates with a recognised, independent laboratory.
• We choose protective packaging. This way parents can be sure: Our powdered HiPP formula does not come into contact with anything that could contaminate the product with mineral oil.²

These extensive quality measures, from the field through to the formula packs, make HiPP formulae one of the safest and best-controlled foodstuffs around.

Parents can be sure: with HiPP formulae, babies get formula of the highest quality.

No MOAH was detected in the HiPP formulae tested in the 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023 Öko-Test.

Our analyses do not corroborate the MOSH level claims made by Öko-Test magazine in its June 2021 test report on our HiPP Pre Infant Formulae. Analyses of these batches by an independent, recognised laboratory are significantly lower and show almost -50% lower levels.

Parents can rest assured: Our very tight control system would have detected batches with MOSH levels as high as Öko-Test claims in their report.

We at HiPP have not changed our extremely high quality requirements and safety standards since the last Öko-Test report on infant formula in 2019 . Our products are subject to exactly the same stringent controls as our formulae were two years ago.

Öko-Test analyzed HiPP BIO COMBIOTIK^® again and confirmed our laboratory result in its April 2022 "Special" magazine. HiPP BIO COMBIOTIK^® Pre is thus a test winner in the organic formula milk segment.

Providing the best and safest products has always been and will continue to be our top priority here at HiPP.

¹ https://www.efsa.europa.eu/de/topics/topic/mineral-oil-hydrocarbons

² Mineral oil compounds are also often linked to printing inks. This is not an issue with our HiPP formulae – we exclusively use mineral oil-free, vegetable oil-based inks on our packaging. Another concern is mineral oil entering the formula from the outside through the packaging. But this is not possible either. Our formula packs are specially developed so that we can exclude this route of entry.