The evidence being cited in recent press articles comes from two Swiss studies last year, both published in the journal European Food Research and Technology.The first study identified the inclusion of newsprint in recycled paper and board as the main source of the mineral oil and highlighted both quite high levels of migration and the conflict between meeting European recycling targets and controlling migration.The second study analyzed 119 samples of dry food packed in paperboard boxes. Once again mineral hydrocarbons were found in all the foods packed either without an inner plastic bag, or with a polyethylene bag.Other sources of mineral oils include printing inks used on the packaging, recycled paperboard used as secondary or tertiary packaging, and contamination during bulk shipment and processing of foods, according to Nick Kernoghan, UK Director and Head of Testing at Pira International.Nick Kernoghan suggests measures to solve the problems, such as to use an inner bag that is a barrier to mineral oil migration, to incorporate more virgin fiber in paperboard food packaging, and to improve the sourcing of recycled fiber, so that newspapers do not find their way into food packaging.