China formula ‘contamination’: Mineral oil hydrocarbon found in all goat-dairy products tested
A study in China found mineral oil hydrocarbon (MOH) contamination in all samples of goat milk-based infant formulas that were tested by researchers.
MOH are usually found in food packaging and can potentially migrate into the food contained within. It can also come from machines and procedures used during harvesting and processing of food.
The study included 51 infant formulas sold in China in 2018, consisting 39 dairy milk-based and 12 goat milk-based. Researchers also included formulas in different stages (stage 1,2,3) and different package type (metal cans, paper box).
The researchers chose the Gas Chromatography – Flame Ionisation/ Mass Spectrometry (GC-FID/MS) method to measure MOH contamination as there was no harmonised standard analytical method for testing MOHs in infant formula.
