On July 1, 2025, NSF, an international certification organization, announced a MOAH-free certification (NSF Certification Guideline 538) for materials used in the food industry. The certification combines component review, health and safety certification (NSF 51), and final product testing. Both food processing equipment that contacts food (e.g., sealants, gaskets, tubing, coatings) and nonfood compounds (e.g., lubricants, release agents) used during food processing that may incidentally contact food are included.
Mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH) and other mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOHs) are used as additives in some food contact materials (FCMs) where they serve as lubricants and defoaming, cleaning and non-stick agents. They can be applied during the production of food and/or FCMs. Environmental pollution and contamination of packaging can be additional sources of MOHs in food, especially in recycled paper and board (FPF reported).
The European Food Safety Authority states that MOAH poses a risk of damaging cells and causing cancer (FPF reported).
To qualify for the NSF’s new certification, manufacturers must demonstrate that a product’s MOAH content is below 100 ppm, guarantee no intentional addition of mineral oil, paraffins, naphthenes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), or wax, and present manufacturing controls to minimize contamination. Nonfood compounds must already be registered with NSF or certified to ISO 21469, while food equipment materials must be certified to NSF/ANSI 51.
The NSF announcement states the new certification is a response to growing attention on MOAH contamination (FPF reported). The organization published a similar PFAS-free certification program (NSF 537) in March of 2025.
Reference
NSF (July 1, 2025). “NSF Launches Groundbreaking MOAH-Free Certification for Food Industry Materials.”
NSF (March 24, 2025). “NSF Introduces PFAS-Free Certification.”
