Emma Öberg

Senior Technical Advisor, Nynas AB

Emma Öberg is a Senior Technical Advisor for NYNAS AB based in Falkenberg, Sweden. She holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from the Royal institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm. In her role Emma gives technical support to the industry, perform product development, and follow regulatory matters related to hydrocarbon fluids and formulations containing these materials within the chemical manufacturing industry in Europe, with a focus on the adhesive and sealant industry.

MOSH/MOAH in Food Contact Adhesives: A Technical Perspective

Regulatory interest in mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons and mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOSH and MOAH) originated from food contamination cases reported in the early 2010s, initially linked to printed packaging materials, and has since expanded to the wider food contact material value chain. MOSH and MOAH are groups of hydrocarbons which overlap and co-elute in liquid chromatography, producing a continuous “hump” rather than distinct peaks. MOSH and MOAH are unresolved fractions of saturated and aromatic hydrocarbons defined by chromatographic behaviour rather than molecular identity, where the MOSH fraction is defined as linear and branched alkanes and cycloalkanes and the MOAH fraction is defined as mono-, di- and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

The latest draft of the EU Commission services document proposes the introduction of MOAH maximum limits into Annex I of Regulation (EU) No 2023/915; the draft has not yet been adopted, but maximum MOAH levels seem plausible to enter into force.

With the ongoing revision of regulation (EU) No 2023/915 in mind, NYNAS has conducted a study of adhesive migrations of model adhesives for food contact applications. The objective was to evaluate MOSH and MOAH results from a model adhesive and relate them to the technical properties of the adhesive itself. Results from different analytical techniques are discussed and their differentiation between mono and di-aromatic fractions and polycyclic aromatic fraction. The results show that the analytical method of choice has an influence on the MOAH classification.

Polycyclic aromatic MOAH (3+ rings) are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). In the industry analytical methods are already established to quantify and qualify PAH levels in food stuffs (EU No 2023/915 Annex II table 5) and in rubber mixtures for example. In this study the MOSH and MOAH results are therefore evaluated alongside polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) testing.

Co-authors:
Karl Henriksen, Pär Nyman

Breakout Session XII – Defossilisation & Circularity in Adhesives – 17 September 2026 – 17:30 – 18:00 – Room Mountbatten – F6