Dear colleagues,

we cordially invite you to the 5th International Conference on Mineral Oil Components, which will take place in Berlin at the Mercure Hotel MOA Berlin on September 30 and October 1, 2025. The German Society for Fat Science offers you an unique platform for the exchange between industry, science and politics to discuss current developments, innovative technologies and sustainable solutions in the field of mineral oil components.

Mineral oil components in food, in particular saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH) and aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH), represent a relevant contamination risk. MOSH accumulate in organs such as the liver and lymph nodes, while MOAH are considered to be of particular concern due to their potentially genotoxic and carcinogenic properties. Over the last decades different entry pathways have been shown including treated jute sacks, recycled packaging, lubricants from production facilities or other environmental sources.

In recent years, huge progress has been made in minimizing this contamination e.g. through the definition of industry-specific orientation values, the further development of the analytical method and the identification of further entry pathways with appropriate mitigation strategies. Meanwhile, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) emphasizes the need for further reduction, especially of MOAH with 3-7 aromatic rings, which are considered the main risk factors. All these measures have led to a significant reduction of mineral oil components, however, the problem is still not solved. What is the progress to improve the analytical method? How to measure the toxicological important compounds with 3-7 aromatic ring? What developments are there for the determination using GCxGC to differentiate the compounds? What is the industry doing to minimize mineral oil components? What is the status of the legal regulations, what can we expect? And, and, and?

The congress aims to bring you up to date on the current status of mineral oil components in food, covering everything from toxicology and the legal framework to analysis and minimization measures. You will have the opportunity to meet leading experts who will share their insights on mineral oil components in food with you. Therefore, this congress is important for all interested parties from the authorities, official and private laboratories, consumer protection and industry who are involved in quality control, analysis, evaluation and marketing of food and who have to make decisions on mineral oil components.

We would be very pleased to welcome you in Berlin on the 5th International Congress on Mineral Oil Contaminants in Food.

Erik Becker

Institut Kirchhoff Berlin GmbH, part of Mérieux NutriScience, Berlin

Gerhard Brankatschk

Association of the Oilseed Crushing and Vegetable Oil Refining Industry in Germany (OVID), Berlin

Bertrand Matthäus

Max Rubner-Institut, Detmold