Clondalkin Flexible Packaging offers WENTOPRO® as a solution to the recent discovery of mineral oil traces in chocolate products. WENTOPRO® is a multi-layer film that can be used as a ‘bag in box’ liner for chocolate and other food products providing a solution to the migration of mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH) and mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH).
The product allows manufacturers to continue to use recycled materials such as recycled cardboard in their packaging to maintain sustainability goals, without the fear of mineral oils migrating to the food product. In 2015, FoodWatch launched a campaign calling for the introduction of suitable barrier coatings for food packaging to limit the migration of harmful mineral oils into food products. Subsequently, the consumer group tested 15 chocolate products and five brands of potato chips for MOSH and MOAH content. Mineral oil hydrocarbons derive from printing ink used in newsprint, which is commonly used to make recycled cardboard for food packaging.
Some recent studies have linked these mineral oils to the inflammation of internal organs, including the liver, spleen and lymph nodes. Christian Claes, Business Development Director at Clondalkin Flexible Packaging Wentus, commented: “We welcomed the introduction of the campaign from FoodWatch in 2015. “WENTOPRO®-barrier film is a real solution for manufacturers of chocolate, confectionery and other dry food products to protect against the migration of these harmful mineral oils into their food products.”
The German Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (Bundesministerium für Ernährung, Landwirtschaft und Verbraucherschutz – BMELV) recommends, in their latest draft of the German Mineral Oil Ordinance, that migration of MOSH should not exceed 2 mg/kg and MOAH levels should be no higher than 0.5mg/kg. The new Clondalkin film offers protection far greater than this, with typical values less than 0.2mg/kg for both.
There are two different variants of the WENTOPRO® film: WSL 343040, which protects against MOSH and MOAH and WSL 143031, which offers additional protection against UV photoinitiator exposure, used in curing inks on cardboard and food labels. The migration of these UV photoinitiators into food has also been the subject of recent scientific debate.
