MOSH/MOAH in edible oils (quantification)

The German Society for Fat Science e.V. published the unit method DGF C-VI 22 (20) "Mineral oil constituents, saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH) and aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH) with online coupled LC-GC-FID method for low limits of determination" in December 2020. Limits of quantification are 1 mg/kg related to total MOSH and total MOAH.

Method ring test P2401-MRT is designed for the quantification of MOSH and MOAH by means of LC-GC-FID or similar methods. The quantification of low levels of MOSH and MOAH in fats and oils is challenging and a suitable clean-up is necessary to reach low limits of quantification.

Limits of quantification of 1 mg/kg related to total MOSH resp. total MOAH are necessary for this method ring test.

Two test materials are offered in P2401-MRT: 

• a spiked sample of olive oil (and the corresponding blank material), and
• a spiked sample of palm oil (and the corresponding blank material). 

Spiked levels are within the typical ranges of contaminations of edible oils. The results related to the spiked materials are evaluated with respect to the comparability criterion (z-score) as well as with respect to the trueness criterion (70 to 120 % of the spiked level, as far as scientifically reasonable).

P2401-MRT is offered as a method ring test, which means,

• the evaluation is not limited to the pure statistical evaluation.
• the participants are asked to provide the chromatograms related to the test materials.
• the participants are asked to answer a questionnaire related to relevant aspects of the sample prepration and analysis. 

The chromatogramms as well as the answers related to the questionnaire are summarised in separate parts of the final report. For reasons of fairness, only those participants, which provide details and chromatograms will receive these parts of the report. The data will help to identify shortcommings, built the basis for further discussion and thus help to enhance the quality of the applied method.