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Mineral oil in chocolate Santa Claus Foodwatch warns again
The consumer protection organization Foodwatch has found in a laboratory analysis harmful substances in Christmas sweets. In Schoko-Nikoläusen, therefore, cancer-suspected mineral oils were found. The organization calls on politicians to better protect consumers.
Mineral oil in Christmas sweets
Time and again there are reports about finds of mineral oil in food. In recent years, mineral oil residues have been found, for example, in Advent calendars and chocolate Easter bunnies. And in the summer the news about mineral oil finds in Ferrero's "Kinder-Riegel" made the rounds. Even if the health hazards are repeatedly pointed out by these substances, the situation does not seem to improve. Once again, mineral oils were detected in Christmas sweets.
The consumer organization Foodwatch has found dangerous substances in Christmas sweets. Two chocolate Santa Claus are burdened with mineral oils. (Image: punghi / fotolia.com) Contaminated chocolate Santa Claus
As the consumer organization Foodwatch announces in a recent announcement, two chocolate Santa Clauss sold at Edeka are contaminated with suspected mineral oil.
In addition, the laboratory tests commissioned by Foodwatch revealed that 13 more Christmas candies contained saturated mineral oils. Positive: The loads have dropped compared to previous tests.
Two products affected by Edeka
According to the information, the "Good & Cheaper chocolate Santa Claus" by Edeka and the "Friedel Santa Claus chocolates" by Rübezahl, which is also distributed by Edeka affected.
In both, the analysis revealed aromatic mineral oils (MOAH) that are considered to be potentially carcinogenic and mutagenic. In addition, the two products have also been found to contain saturated mineral oils (MOSH), which can accumulate in the body and cause damage to the organs.
Foodwatch called on manufacturers to publicly recall the affected products.
Mineral oil contamination can be avoided
A total of 20 Christmas sweets, from chocolate products to gingerbread, were tested. Results can be read here.
According to Foodwatch, mineral oil levels have declined compared to previous tests. Shortly before Easter, analyzes revealed that aromatic mineral oils were present in eight of 20 chocolate oases - proof to the consumer protection organization that mineral oil contamination could be avoided if manufacturers wanted it.
"The confectionery industry is clearly capable of banning mineral oils from their products when public pressure is high enough," says Johannes Heeg, campaigner at Foodwatch.
Politics is needed
"Federal Nutrition Minister Christian Schmidt must finally take all food manufacturers in the obligation and introduce binding limits to protect consumers from these completely unnecessary health hazards," said Heeg.
Foodwatch Demands Strict Highs for Saturated Mineral Oils (MOSH) in All Foods and Zero Tolerance for Most Critical Aromatic Mineral Oils (MOAH).
Mineral oils pass through the packaging into the chocolate
Mineral oils can be made into chocolate in various ways, such as 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.
A common source is also used paper packaging. In addition to mineral oil-based printing inks, waste paper contains up to 250 other chemicals that can be transferred to the food if recycling cartons are used as food packaging, during transport or storage of the raw materials. (Ad)