Update on MOSH&MOAH characterization

The analysis of mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOSH and MOAH) in food has long represented a significant analytical challenge, demanding both advanced instrumentation and carefully optimized methodologies. Since the earliest investigations in the 1990s, hyphenated techniques have been central to addressing the complexity of this form of contamination. Initial studies employed online LC–GC–FID, which remains the preferred approach for routine screening. However, its limited ability to resolve the detailed composition of contaminants prompted the introduction of GC×GC in 2008–2009 and, more recently, the development and validation (in 2020) of an integrated (either online or offline) LC–GC×GC–FID/MS platform. The growing availability of GC×GC and its capability for quantitative analysis have attracted substantial interest across laboratories worldwide, enabling more refined quantification of MOSH/MOAH subclasses and reducing uncertainty in data integration and interpretation.
Despite these advances, uncertainties associated with sample preparation—particularly extraction/saponification and epoxidation—remain insufficiently explored and require further refinement, as well as toxicological evaluation related to the contamination profile and the development of alternative and screening methods.
This presentation will summarize the current state of MOSH/MOAH analysis, with an emphasis on recent progress.