{"id":183501,"date":"2025-10-24T11:24:03","date_gmt":"2025-10-24T09:24:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ainia.com\/?p=183501"},"modified":"2025-11-28T14:29:54","modified_gmt":"2025-11-28T13:29:54","slug":"mosh-moah-definition-analytical-challenges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ainia.com\/en\/ainia-news\/mosh-moah-definition-analytical-challenges\/","title":{"rendered":"MOSH\/MOAH definition, main sources and analytical challenges"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=\u201d\u201d]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>The<\/span> <\/span>analysis<\/span> of<\/span> MOSH and MOAH<\/span><\/span> has <\/span>become<\/span> a <\/span>growing<\/span> priority<\/span> for<\/span> the<\/span> European<\/span> food<\/span> industry<\/span>. <\/span>Their<\/span> detection<\/span> and control <\/span>not<\/span> only<\/span> represent<\/span> a <\/span>technical<\/span> challenge<\/span> but<\/span> also<\/span> a <\/span>regulatory<\/span> one<\/span>, as future <\/strong><\/span>European<\/span> legislation<\/span><\/strong><\/a> is<\/span> expected<\/span> to<\/span> establish<\/span> maximum<\/span> limits<\/span> for<\/span> these<\/span> compounds<\/span>. In <\/span>this<\/span> article<\/span>, <\/span>we<\/span> explore <\/span>the<\/span> <\/span>MOSH\/MOAH <\/span>definition<\/span><\/span>, <\/span>why<\/span> these<\/span> substances<\/span> are a <\/span>concern<\/span>, and <\/span>the<\/span> main<\/span> analytical<\/span> difficulties<\/span> and <\/span>tools<\/span> available<\/span> for<\/span> their<\/span> control.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0M<\/span>OSH<\/span>\/<\/span>MOAH<\/span><\/span> definition<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOH)<\/span><\/b> are a complex mixture of chemical compounds derived mainly from the distillation and refining of petroleum, although they can also originate from coal, natural gas, or biomass. Their composition and behavior vary depending on the source and degree of processing of the mineral oil.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In the context of <\/span>MOSH\/MOAH analysis<\/span><\/b>, these compounds are divided into two main groups with distinct chemical and toxicological properties:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Mineral Oil Saturated Hydrocarbons (MOSH)<\/span><\/b><\/h4>\n