DGF ‘Emerging and Persistent Contaminants in Oils and Fats – Challenges and Innovations’

This conference will spotlight one of the most pressing issues for the oils and fats industry: contaminant management and mitigation. As analytical methods become more sensitive and global regulations tighten, the list of substances under scrutiny continues to expand. Organised by the German Society for Fat Science (DGF), leading experts from research, regulatory agencies and industry will gather to discuss both emerging contaminants, such as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and process-related compounds, as well as ongoing challenges including mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOH), 3-MCPD, and glycidyl esters. Participants can expect insights into the latest scientific findings, risk assessment approaches, and innovative mitigation strategies that support compliance and consumer safety.

Key take-aways for delegates:

Stay ahead of tightening global regulations and compliance requirements
Understand risks around MOH, 3-MCPD, glycidyl esters and emerging contaminants (POPs)
Learn the latest analytical methods and risk assessment approaches
Discover innovative mitigation and contamination control strategies
Gain insight into how regulation and consumer expectations are reshaping standards

Tuesday 22 September

9:00-9.30 Céline Vocat, Research Assistant Chemical Contaminants, Nestlé Research Center, Lausanne/CH
End-to-end automated mineral oil analysis in food: A journey for a consensus and unbiased method across laboratories

9:30-10:00 Rebekka Siegmann, Campaigner, foodwatch e.V. Berlin/DE
Food contaminants and consumer safety: Addressing blind spots

10:00-10:30 Michiel Kokken, Global Head of Regulatory and Scientific Affairs Cocoa / Head of Regulatory EMENA, Olam Food Ingredients (ofi), Amsterdam/NL
MOH contamination through jute packaging: exposure and mitigation

Break 10:30-11:20

11:20-11:50 Ludger Brühl, Max Rubner-Institut (MRI), Federal Research Institute of Nutrition and Food, Detmold/DE
Avoiding MOH from lubricants in oils and fats production

11:50-12:20 Maurus Biedermann, Head of Analytics, Consumer Goods and Gas Chromatography, Official Food Control Authority of the Canton of Zurich, Zurich/CH
The new Guidance document for the characterization of the contamination with mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOSH and MOAH) by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC)

12:20-12:50 Marco Nestola, Research & Development Manager, Trajan Scientific and Medical, Sprockhövel/DE
Analytical challenges in MOSH/MOAH and PAH determination and how modern methods address them

Lunch 12.50-14.20

14:20-14:50 Uta Verbeek, managing director, meyer.science GmbH, Munich/DE
Contaminants without legal maximum levels – no limits or defined procedures?

14:50-15:20 Floor van Meer, Senior researcher Data Science, Wageningen Food Safety Research, Wageningen/NL
The 392-million-entry CompreHensive European Food Safety (CHEFS) database: AI opportunities and future directions?

15:20-15:50 Nicola Ackermann, Business Development Manager, SGS INSTITUT FRESENIUS GmbH, Taunusstein/DE
Contaminants in packaging

Wednesday 23 September

9:00-9.30 Kerstin Krätschmer, Project Leader (Organic Contaminants), Wageningen Food Safety Research, Wageningen University & Research/NL
Halogenated POPs in oils and fats - from well-known to newly emerging?

9:30-10:00 Jan Kuhlmann, Teamleader Chromatography, SGS Germany GmbH, Hamburg/DE
Chloroparaffins: official perception – analysis – occurrence

10:00-10:30 Ralph Zwaagerman, Global Project Lead Analytical Development, Bunge, Wormerveer/NL
The challenges of MCPDE/GE analysis in an edible oils and fats producer QC laboratory: How analytical innovation helps reduce consumer risk

Break 10:30-11:20

11:20-11:50 Zuzana Zelinkova, Cargill Food Solutions, FSQR Analytical Chemistry Group EMEA, Bergen op Zoom/NL
Navigating the Challenges of Phthalates Analysis in Vegetable Oils and Fats: Analytical Insights and Practical Solutions

11:50-12:20 Fernando Campos, Director European Corporate Analytical, ADM Hamburg AG-Research, Hamburg/DE
Enhanced determination of extraction solvent residues in RBD oils: technical hexane

12:20-12:50
Bisphenols

Lunch 12.50-14.20

14:20 -14:50
The state of play of the activities of the European Commission on contaminants in fats, oils and oilseeds