In addition to mineral oil hydrocarbon compounds, undesirable substances such as pyrrolizidine alkaloids, tropane alkaloids and aflatoxins can also be found in popular ingredients for gingerbread and Christmas spices such as candied lemon peel, candied orange peel, nutmeg, coriander and aniseed. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA) and tropane alkaloids are natural substances that are mainly formed by certain plants, e.g. the St. James' Cross or deadly nightshade, and serve as protection against predators. Whereas the aflatoxins are mould toxins (mycotoxins), which are known to be extremely carcinogenic.

Mineral oils are hydrocarbon compounds (MOH: Mineral Oil Hydrocarbons). They can be subdivided into the two groups MOSH (Mineral Oil Saturated Hydrocarbons) and MOAH (Mineral Oil Aromatic Hydrocarbons). Structurally related to MOSH are the so-called POSH (Polyolefin Oligomeric Saturated Hydrocarbons). Investigations conducted by the European Food Safety Authority found that MOH are present in almost all food products. In particular, in the case of dried food products with a large surface area, such as e.g. spices, flour, semolina, rice, breadcrumbs, or breakfast cereals, you cannot fully rule out the risk of contamination. Fatty foods as well, such as chocolate, butter, nuts, or cooking oils, could be contaminated with mineral oil hydrocarbons. These compounds can end up in the food products in a variety of ways. Potential paths of contamination include the packaging materials (recycled paper, printer ink, jute or sisal sacks treated with oils for waterproofing), lubricating oils from production or harvesting machines, food additives (anti-sticking agents, coatings, glossy agents, anti-dusting agents), gas emissions from the surrounding environment, and many more.

Compressed air is indispensable in the laboratory! The use of the completely refurbished compressed air systems in the laboratories in Hamburg and Hameln not only increased operational safety, but the significantly reduced energy consumption saves costs and protects the climate. The quality of the compressed air also reaches a new level. This is indispensable, as the measuring equipment in the laboratories for chemical analysis and quality control of food samples is in operation around the clock. Many of the applications require particularly high-quality oil-free compressed air.

GBA Pharma Labs (Member of GBA Group) are announcing their new "state-of-the-art" building in Neuried, located in the west of Munich, where their nearby sites Graefelfing and Martinsried, will be merged.

Facts & Features:

• relocation is scheduled for the 1st Quarter of 2022
• Neuried is close to our previous locations
• Uninterrupted operations during relocation
• Laboratory area will be increased to 2,400 m2
• Total area will be doubled to 6,000 m2
• Our portfolio will remain unchanged at the new location
• Through bundling we can expand our capacities. e.g. our capacities for handling highly active substances such as cytostatics will be more than doubled

Every year, certain Christmas treats are specifically tested for undesirable contaminants: Acrylamide in gingerbread, speculoos biscuit and cinnamon stars or mineral oil residues in Advent calendar chocolate. According to the EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), the undesirable production-related substance acrylamide potentially increases the risk of cancer. Critical for the mineral oil residues are the aromatic mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOAH) which are also classified as potentially carcinogenic.

In the last years a positive trend was registered and fewer products were contaminated - does this trend continue?