Packaged Breakfast Cereals, Dry Pasta, and Rice in Recycled Paperboard — food safety profile
High riskIn 2012, food safety authorities in Europe discovered mineral oil migrating from recycled cereal boxes into breakfast cereal.
What is this product?
In 2012, food safety authorities in Europe discovered mineral oil migrating from recycled cereal boxes into breakfast cereal. A regulation was proposed to address this.
What's in it
Click any compound name for its full safety profile, regulatory consensus, and exposure data.
Who's most at risk
- Pregnant Women — Fetal exposure via placental transfer; developing endocrine systems of fetus
- Children — Higher food-to-body-weight ratio, developing organ systems
How to use it more safely
- Transfer contents to airtight containers after opening
- Keep in cool, dry location away from moisture and humidity
- Use within expiration date; check packaging for integrity before purchase
- Ensure recycled paperboard packaging shows no signs of contamination or pest damage
Red flags — when to walk away
- Contains known carcinogen — Mineral oils, untreated and mildly treat — classified by IARC or NTP as carcinogenic or probably carcinogenic to humans
- Overall risk level: high — Multiple hazard pathways identified for this product category
Green flags — what to look for
- Third-party tested for contaminants — Independent lab verification of safety claims
Safer alternatives
- Glass or metal containers — Non-porous, prevents moisture absorption and contamination risk
- Virgin paperboard packaging — Lower risk of contaminants from recycled materials
Frequently asked questions
What's in Packaged Breakfast Cereals, Dry Pasta, and Rice in Recycled Paperboard?
This product type can contain: Mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH) — C10-C35 alkane fraction, Mineral oils, untreated and mildly treated, Decabromodiphenyl ether (PBDE-209), Diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), among others. Click any compound name above for the full safety profile.
Who should be careful with Packaged Breakfast Cereals, Dry Pasta, and Rice in Recycled Paperboard?
Vulnerable populations identified for this product type: pregnant women, children.
How can I use Packaged Breakfast Cereals, Dry Pasta, and Rice in Recycled Paperboard more safely?
Transfer contents to airtight containers after opening; Keep in cool, dry location away from moisture and humidity; Use within expiration date; check packaging for integrity before purchase
Are there safer alternatives to Packaged Breakfast Cereals, Dry Pasta, and Rice in Recycled Paperboard?
Yes — consider: Glass or metal containers; Virgin paperboard packaging. See the Safer alternatives section above for details.
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Open in food View raw API dataReference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific information. Why we built ALETHEIA →