INFORM May 2026

16 INFORM MAY 2026, VOL. 37, NO. 5

Over time, technical hexane emerged as the preferred solvent based on its beneficial properties: a strong solvency for non-polar lipids, a relatively low boiling point of about 70 °C, which allows efficient recovery by distillation, and a comparatively low cost. By the 1930s, hexane extraction had been adopted at industrial scale and it has remained the dominant method ever since. Today, it is estimated that nearly 95 percent of global vegetable oil extraction relies on hexane-based processes. loop systems, where most of the solvent is continuously recovered, condensed, and recycled within the process. This minimizes solvent losses while maintaining high extraction efficiency. As a result, hexane extraction continues to play a central role in the production of vegetable oils and defatted protein meals used in food and feed applications worldwide. WHY HEXANE IS BEING REVISITED TODAY Despite its long history of use, hexane has recently returned to the center of regulatory and scientific discussions. Technical hexane primarily consists of n-hexane, accompanied by several structural isomers such as 2-methylpentane, 3-methylpentane, 2,2-dimethylbutane, and 2,3-dimethylbutane. Together, Modern extraction plants are designed as closed

these compounds form the non-polar solvent fraction commonly used for oil extraction. In 1996, the European Commission evaluated the safety of technical hexane as a food extraction solvent. At that time, the committee concluded that hexane could be safely used under existing conditions. They estimated consumer exposure was 0.1 mg/kg body weight per day and established a no observed-effect level (NOEL) of 23 mg/kg body weight per day. Subsequent legislation, including Directive 2009/32/EC, defined technical hexane and established maximum residue limits (MRL) at 1 mg/kg for fats and oils. The European Union began a reassessment of chemical substance hazards under REACH Regulation, which became law in 2007. In September 2024, the Commission announced they would strengthen n-hexane regulation regarding its neurotoxic properties. While it has long been recognized as a peripheral neurotoxin, regulatory action in the EU moved toward stricter classification. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published the “Technical Report on the Need for Re-evaluation of the Safety of Hexane Used as an Extraction Solvent in the Production of Foodstuffs and Food Ingredients” that concluded the 1996 safety assessment was outdated and recommended a

reassessment of hexane use as an oilseed extraction solvent. Current legislation defines hexane primarily by its boiling range, rather than detailed compositional specifications, creating uncertainty about possible minor constituents and impurities. The potential presence of contaminants such as benzene, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOSH/ MOAH) has raised additional toxicological questions. At the same time, improved dietary exposure assessments suggest that consumer exposure—particularly among infants and young children— may be higher than previously estimated, introducing uncertainty into existing safety margins. Meanwhile, new research has expanded understanding of hexane’s metabolism, toxicokinetics, and biological effects, although these data have not yet been fully integrated into regulatory frameworks. The reassessment of hexane is not being driven by evidence of immediate risk. Rather, it reflects a broader regulatory trend: the re-evaluation of long-established processing aids using modern scientific methods and analytical capabilities. To support this reassessment, EFSA issued a Call for Data in June 2025, seeking new information on the use of technical hexane in food production. Soon afterward,