Mineral oils in infant milk powder found
The consumer protection organization Foodwatch has found in several milk powder products for infants potentially carcinogenic mineral oils. Three out of four in Germany products purchased contaminants were substances with aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH) was detected, said food watch. There is no acute health is in danger.
Foodwatch is calling for a zero tolerance in terms of the content of aromatic hydrocarbons in food – a legal limit yet. In the case of the infant food, the values fluctuated between 0.5 and 3 milligrams per kilogram. The organization, which relied on independent laboratory analyses, called for stop, immediate sale, and the recall of the affected products in Germany and Austria. Parents should not feed it to children as a precautionary measure, with the affected products, it said.
Vived, one of the firms, informed, you’ll take the test results very seriously and have initiated with the manufacturer to appropriate tests. “The extent to which the accusations are understandable, we can’t answer currently,” said Vived.
Food Association: zero tolerance is not possible
The Federal food Minister, Julia Klöckner (CDU), demanded with a view to the results of the test of transparency. “If it turns out that Baby – or infant milk, the health of our Smallest damage could, not should you end up in the supermarket.” Food should be safe.
According to Foodwatch, the residues in the “Beba Optipro Pre, 800 g have been found from birth,” and “Beba Optipro 1, 800 g, from birth,” of Nestlé, in addition, in the “Novalac infant milk formula Pre, 400g”. Nestlé declined to comment, according to a speaker in the course of the day to the allegations.
The food Association said basically that it caused a zero tolerance for mineral Oil hydrocarbons and similar substances “also due to the environment and, consequently, unavoidable basic load hardly” could be. From today’s point of view, this is not problematic for the health. The food industry, but working continuously to reduce the entry to contribute.
Danger in carton packaging
That such oil can move parts in small quantities from packaging to foods such as rice, has been known for years. As a cause, particularly recycled cardboard boxes previously: For the manufacture of printed waste paper is used, the printing inks contain mineral oils. Food watch suspected in the current case, the tin cans, in which all studied items were Packed, could be a source of contamination.
The Federal food Minister, said that it is aiming for the mineral oil Problem is a European solution, because food EU-wide traded. Germany have ensured that the EU Commission had become active, and data from all member States evaluation. In addition, a regulation will be prepared for materials design to food packaging made from recycled Paper. Target: an obligation for companies to design these in a way that mineral Oil residues can not be excreted in the food is.
The Federal Institute for risk assessment (BfR) refers to impurities me aromatic hydrocarbons, already in 2017 as “generally undesirable”. Transitions in food should be minimized. “A health assessment is due to insufficient data, it is not possible”, – said on the website, however, with respect to aromatic mineral oils. Previous finds of mineral oil traces in chocolate, directed the experts that the daily intake amounts are small.