Children's chocolate mineral oil finds in children's bar - Foodwatch calls for quick recall (update)

Carcinogenic mineral oil traces in "child bars": Foodwatch calls for recall
A laboratory test by the consumer organization foodwatch shows: Chocolate from Ferrero, Lindt and Rübezahl contains health-endangering mineral oils. The carcinogenic substances were found in Ferrero's "Kinder Riegel". Foodwatch had called for a recall, but the manufacturers refused to take the products out of the sale.

Harmful mineral oils in chocolate
According to a laboratory test by consumer organization foodwatch, chocolate from Ferrero, Lindt and Rübezahl contains harmful mineral oils. According to a press release from the organization, Ferrero's "Kinder Riegel", Lindt's "Fioretto Nougat Minis" and Rübezahl's "Sun Rice Classic Schoko Happen" (including Aldi) are contaminated with so-called aromatic mineral oils (MOAH). These are considered to cause cancer and are said to damage the human genome. According to the information, foodwatch informed the affected manufacturers in advance about the test results and demanded a public recall. However, they refused to take the products out of the sale.

The consumer organization foodwatch has found harmful mineral oils in chocolate in a laboratory test. This affects Ferrero's "Kinder-Riegel". (Image: ivonic / fotolia.com)

"Manufacturers act roughly negligently"
"The manufacturers act grossly negligent. Instead of removing the dangerous sweets from the shelves and warning the consumers, they tell themselves that it's all quite legal - they prevent overdue limit values ​​even for years, "said Johannes Heeg of foodwatch. The Federal Confederation of Confectionery Industry (BDSI) once again refers to allegedly successful "research initiatives and quality management measures" in a public statement in order to reduce hazardous substances in food. Consumption of chocolate contaminated with aromatic mineral oils is "harmless," the association said.

Substances are classified as carcinogenic
Mineral oils are used in the food industry for example as lubricants for machines or in packaging. "The mineral oils detectable in food are divided into two groups: the aromatic mineral oils (MOAH) and the saturated mineral oils (MOSH). Particularly dangerous are the former. They are suspected of being carcinogenic, mutagenic and affecting the endocrine system, "foodwatch said on its website. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) generally considers the intake of MOAH (Mineral Oil Aromatic Hydrocarbons) by food as a concern. And according to the assessment of the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) "no demonstrable transition from MOAH to food should take place".

"Kinder-Bar" was the worst cut
Worst of all, Ferrero's "children's bar" has been cut off in the foodwatch test. Values ​​were highest for both saturated mineral oils (MOSH) and cancer-damaging, mutagen-damaging aromatic mineral oils (MOAH). "Again and again, laboratory tests detect dangerous mineral oils in food. Again and again, the manufacturers respond with excuses. But so far, Federal Minister of Food Christian Schmidt only admits that there is a problem. He still owes the solution, namely safe limits for mineral oil contamination, to consumers, "criticized Johannes Heeg. "The problem has been known for years, but politics has not responded to it yet. The solution would be so simple: the European Union must prescribe the use of suitable barrier layers for waste paper packaging and set strict limits for mineral oil in food, "write the foodwatch experts elsewhere.

Mineral oil finds in food
Time and again there are reports about finds of mineral oil in food. Mineral oils can get into chocolate in various ways. For example, jute sacks used to transport cocoa beans, which are treated with mineral oils; via machine oils used in production or via exhaust gases from industry and traffic. In many cases, they come from the printing inks in the waste paper packaging. In recent years, mineral oil residues were found, for example, in Advent calendars or in chocolate Easter bunnies. A few months ago, findings on mineral oil in lip care had also been reported. (Ad)