Sources Of White Oil in Foods

Food raw materials are exposed to various pollutants during the planting, harvesting, drying, and final processing stages. These pollutants include mineral oil, diesel oil, engine lubricating oil, incompletely burned gasoline, and contaminants in the soil or ground. As a result, the food is at risk of being contaminated with mineral oil. The sources of pollution can be categorized into six main aspects.

Soil or ground contamination

Some parts of the country are facing serious soil pollution, particularly by mineral oil. When soil is contaminated above a certain limit, it can be absorbed by vegetables and plants, leading to accumulation in the food chain. Moreover, during the harvesting process, plants can come in contact with other mineral oil-based substances like asphalt and lubricating oil. The major issue with such polluted raw materials is that mineral oil is tough to remove, causing it to accumulate gradually in the food chain. Eventually, it gets into finished products through various food processing methods, leading to high levels of mineral oil in the end result.

Substances such as pesticides or insecticides

The use of pesticides and insecticides during crop growth results in the absorption and enrichment of mineral oils in the plants, leading to crop pollution. This pollution persists during subsequent processing and ultimately poses a threat to human health. Therefore, it is essential to adopt measures to mitigate the adverse effects of mineral oil pollution on crops and human health.

Processing and production process

During the manufacturing of food ingredients, there's a risk of contamination if the solvents used in the extraction process contain mineral oil. This can lead to the solvent leeching into the final food product and causing contamination, even after undergoing several stages of processing. It's crucial to ensure that solvents used in the production of food ingredients are free of impurities to maintain the safety and quality of the final product.

Food packaging materials

During the packaging process of food products, there is a risk of contaminating the food item with residual printing ink if recycled paper or cardboard is used. Similarly, certain plastic packaging materials, such as those derived from polystyrene and polyolefin, contain lubricants and adhesives that can cause mineral oil migration. As a result, the food can be contaminated with mineral oil. Hence, it is essential to be mindful of the type of food packaging materials used to ensure food safety.

Storage and transportation process

Food storage and transportation can be risky as poor conditions may lead to contamination of the food by mineral oil. This usually happens when mineral oil seeps through the gaps of the equipment used in storing or transporting the food. So, it's important to ensure that the devices used for food storage and transportation are secure enough to prevent any such transfer of mineral oil into the food.

Artificially added

My country's GB 2760-2014, known as the "National Food Safety Standard for the Use of Food Additives," permits the use of mineral oil as a defoaming agent, mold release agent, anti-sticking agent, and lubricant in various food processing activities such as fermentation processes, candy production, potato chip manufacturing, and soy product preparation. Unfortunately, some unethical traders exploit the detection limit of mineral oil as per international methods for their own vested interests. These unscrupulous individuals frequently engage in the adulteration of oil by adding mineral oil deliberately, thereby posing a threat to the well-being and interests of consumers.