Mineral oil hydrocarbons come mainly from petroleum and are split into MOSH and MOAH. They enter food through the environment, machine lubricants, processing aids and migration from packaging, and EFSA says MOAH may act as genotoxic carcinogens.
206 notifications since 1 January 2020 named mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOSH, MOAH), under 1% of all EU notifications in that time. 40 in the 365 days to 8 November 2026, against 72 in the 365 days before, down 44%. 2% were border rejections and 37% had a serious risk decision.
The origins named most often were India (24), Pakistan (19) and Belgium (16). The product categories named most often were fats and oils (53), cereals and bakery products (36) and herbs and spices (19). The products named most often were vegetable oil (21), rice (18) and olive oil (12).
Explainer sources, checked 18 October 2026: Mineral oil hydrocarbons, EFSA.
Counts start on 1 January 2020 and run to 8 November 2026, the day the list was last read. A notification that names two countries of origin counts for each. Findings come from our word list matched against the EU subject line, which is never shown; 96% of all notifications match it, the rest count as other finding. Each reference links to the official record on RASFF Window. How this works.
Latest notifications that named mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOSH, MOAH)
The newest 25 of 206, newest first, each built from fixed word lists. The reference opens the official record.
- Information for attention notified by the Netherlands: mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOSH, MOAH) in a mixed food product from the Philippines, risk decision serious, reference 2026.9694, validated 30 October 2026.
- Information for attention notified by the Netherlands: mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOSH, MOAH) in peas from the Philippines, risk decision serious, reference 2026.9630, validated 29 October 2026.
- Information for attention notified by the Netherlands: mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOSH, MOAH) in anchovies from Vietnam, risk decision serious, reference 2026.8794, validated 5 October 2026.
- Information for follow up notified by Germany: pesticide residues and mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOSH, MOAH) in rice from Pakistan, risk decision potentially serious, reference 2026.8049, validated 11 September 2026.
- Information for follow up notified by Germany: mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOSH, MOAH) in rice from India, risk decision potentially serious, reference 2026.8018, validated 10 September 2026.
- Alert notified by Belgium: mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOSH, MOAH) in a prepared dish or snack from Belgium, risk decision serious, reference 2026.7924, validated 8 September 2026.
- Information for attention notified by the Netherlands: mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOSH, MOAH) in snacks from the Philippines, risk decision serious, reference 2026.7596, validated 28 August 2026.
- Alert notified by Germany: mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOSH, MOAH) in vegetable oil from Italy, risk decision serious, reference 2026.7586, validated 27 August 2026.
- Information for follow up notified by the Netherlands: mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOSH, MOAH) in olive oil from Italy, risk decision potential risk, reference 2026.7074, validated 10 August 2026.
- Information for attention notified by Switzerland: mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOSH, MOAH) in rice from Pakistan, risk decision potentially serious, reference 2026.6868, validated 31 July 2026.
- Alert notified by the Netherlands: mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOSH, MOAH) in olive oil from Slovenia, risk decision serious, reference 2026.6824, validated 31 July 2026.
- Information for attention notified by the Netherlands: mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOSH, MOAH) in olive oil from Greece, risk decision potentially serious, reference 2026.6799, validated 30 July 2026.
- Alert notified by Switzerland: mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOSH, MOAH) in olive oil from Portugal, risk decision serious, reference 2026.4542, validated 22 May 2026.
- Information for attention notified by the Netherlands: mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOSH, MOAH) in raisins from Iran, risk decision serious, reference 2026.4465, validated 20 May 2026.
- Information for attention notified by the Netherlands: mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOSH, MOAH) in peas from the Philippines, risk decision serious, reference 2026.4079, validated 8 May 2026.
- Alert notified by Germany: mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOSH, MOAH) in vegetable oil from Spain, risk decision potentially serious, reference 2026.3706, validated 28 April 2026.
- Alert notified by the Netherlands: mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOSH, MOAH) in biscuits from the Philippines, risk decision serious, reference 2026.3576, validated 24 April 2026.
- Information for follow up notified by Austria: mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOSH, MOAH) in rice from India, risk decision potentially serious, reference 2026.2768, validated 9 April 2026.
- Alert notified by the Netherlands: mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOSH, MOAH) in peas from the Philippines, risk decision serious, reference 2026.2941, validated 7 April 2026.
- Information for follow up notified by Germany: mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOSH, MOAH) in rice from Italy, risk decision potentially serious, reference 2026.2847, validated 2 April 2026.
- Information for follow up notified by Germany: mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOSH, MOAH) in rice from India, risk decision potentially serious, reference 2026.2838, validated 2 April 2026.
- Information for follow up notified by Germany: mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOSH, MOAH) in vegetable oil from Italy, risk decision potential risk, reference 2026.2475, validated 23 March 2026.
- Information for attention notified by Switzerland: mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOSH, MOAH) in food supplement powders of unknown origin, risk decision potentially serious, reference 2026.2127, validated 13 March 2026.
- Information for follow up notified by Switzerland: mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOSH, MOAH) in food supplement powders from Germany, risk decision potential risk, reference 2026.2051, validated 11 March 2026.
- Information for follow up notified by Switzerland: mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOSH, MOAH) in food supplement powders from Germany and Hong Kong, risk decision potentially serious, reference 2026.2055, validated 11 March 2026.
Other process and environmental contaminants: 3 MCPD and glycidyl esters, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), dioxins and PCBs.
The numbers
| Year | Notifications |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 13 |
| 2022 | 10 |
| 2023 | 25 |
| 2024 | 45 |
| 2025 | 73 |
| 2026 (to 8 Nov 2026) | 35 |
| Type | Notifications | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Border rejection | 4 | 2% |
| Alert | 92 | 45% |
| Information for follow up | 66 | 32% |
| Information for attention | 44 | 21% |
| Risk decision | Notifications | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Serious | 77 | 37% |
| Potentially serious | 85 | 41% |
| Potential risk | 19 | 9% |
| Not serious | 8 | 4% |
| Undecided | 17 | 8% |
| Product | Notifications |
|---|---|
| Vegetable oil | 21 |
| Rice | 18 |
| Olive oil | 12 |
| Palm oil | 10 |
| Basmati rice | 8 |
| Raisins | 7 |
| Soups and stock | 5 |
| Cinnamon | 4 |
| Coconut oil | 4 |
| Coffee | 4 |
| Origin | Notifications | Share |
|---|---|---|
| India | 24 | 12% |
| Pakistan | 19 | 9% |
| Belgium | 16 | 8% |
| Germany | 15 | 7% |
| Spain | 15 | 7% |
| Italy | 12 | 6% |
| Philippines | 10 | 5% |
| Thailand | 10 | 5% |
| Netherlands | 8 | 4% |
| China | 7 | 3% |
| Origin not given | 7 | 3% |
| Iran | 6 | 3% |
| Product category | Notifications | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Fats and oils | 53 | 26% |
| Cereals and bakery products | 36 | 17% |
| Herbs and spices | 19 | 9% |
| Fruit and vegetables | 18 | 9% |
| Other and mixed food products | 15 | 7% |
| Nuts, nut products and seeds | 12 | 6% |
| Cocoa, coffee and tea | 10 | 5% |
| Confectionery | 9 | 4% |
| Prepared dishes and snacks | 7 | 3% |
| Soups, sauces and condiments | 7 | 3% |
| Food contact materials | 6 | 3% |
| Food supplements and dietetic foods | 5 | 2% |
| Notifying country | Notifications | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | 72 | 35% |
| Germany | 57 | 28% |
| Belgium | 19 | 9% |
| Switzerland | 18 | 9% |
| France | 7 | 3% |
| Luxembourg | 7 | 3% |
| Czechia | 6 | 3% |
| Denmark | 5 | 2% |
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