The European Coffee Federation (ECF) and the European Cocoa Association (ECA) have jointly released a new industry specification for jute bags used in food-contact applications. The updated standard, which applies to both the coffee and cocoa supply chains, aims to mitigate the risk of food contamination from mineral oil hydrocarbons migrating from packaging materials.
This new framework replaces the IJO98/01 standard, which had been in place for nearly three decades. The previous guidelines relied on proxy-based criteria that are now considered insufficient for detecting potential contaminants. The updated specification shifts to direct analytical measurement of mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH) and mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH), reflecting advances in food safety science and aligning with current European Union regulatory trends.
The specification establishes clear criteria for jute bags and yarns, including specific limits for MOSH and MOAH. It also mandates that all substances used in the manufacturing process—such as batching oils, lubricants, and printing inks—must be food-grade. While the EU has not yet set specific MOAH limits for coffee, this specification provides a vital reference for the industry, leveraging the more advanced regulatory framework developed for cocoa to enhance safety across the coffee supply chain.