2- and 3-Monochloropropane-1,2-diol (2- and 3-MCPD) are important food processing contaminants. 3-MCPD has been classified as a possible human carcinogen, and the Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 sets limitations in food. While, the toxicity of 2-MCPD is still under investigation and long-term studies are required to properly assess its harmfulness.
Esters of 3-MCPD, 2-MCPD and glycidyl esters are contaminants of processed vegetable oils that form during high temperature oil refining. On January 2018, the EFSA scientific opinion showed that those esterified forms undergo extensive hydrolysis upon ingestion, thus generating high quantity of toxic MCPDs. This is a problem primarily linked to vegetable oils and fats, but also to derived foods such as bakery products for example. In particular, the very much-discussed palm oil has found to contain 6-10 times the amount of MCPD and Glycidyl Esters (GE) in comparison to other oils. That raised much concern, considering that palm oil is a common ingredient in foods including baby food.
EU Regulation
On February 2018, the European Commission published the Regulation (EU) 2018/290, amending Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 that entered into force in March 2018 by establishing maximum levels of GE in vegetable oils and fats, infant formula, follow-on formula and foods for special medical purposes intended for infants and young children.
Moreover, in Septemebr 2020, the Regulation (EU) 2020/1322 amends again Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 by introducing new maximum levels of 3‐monochloropropanediol (3-MCPD), 3-MCPD fatty acid esters and GE in certain foods, particularly: hydrolysed vegetable protein, soy sauce and infant formula, medical food, follow-on formula (powder).
The European Commission is continuously working to limit the presence of 3-MCPD and GE in food and it is expected shortly an update for these limits and for those of 3-MCPD, given the toxicological agreement between EFSA and JECFA (FAO / WHO) on the possible risks and adverse health effects for consumers.
Food safety risk for infants and toddlers
Several authorities carried out many exposure assessments and studies of 3-MCPD esters via formulas: BfR, JEFCA, EFSA and FDA. All the assessments results showed that formula fed infants had a risk from 3-MCPD esters exposure, since vegetable oil is a key ingredient in infant formula.
Mérieux NutriSciences offer
Mérieux NutriSciences offers a complete panel of analyses to monitor the presence of free as well as esterified MCPDs and GE in food:
- 2-MCPD (2-Monochloropropane-1,2-diol)
- 3-MCPD (3-Monochloropropane-1,2-diol)
- 2-MCPD esters (2-Monochloropropane-1,2-diol fatty acid esters)
- 3-MCPD esters (3-Monochloropropane-1,2-diol fatty acid esters)
- GE (Glycidyl fatty acid Esters)
Following the specific requirements and limits for baby food and infant formula matrices, for the determination of 2- and 3-MCPD esters and GE Mérieux NutriSciences apply the AOAC 2018.03 method.
References:
- Regulation (EU) 2018/290
- Regulation (EU) 2020/1322
- EFSA Scientific Opinion 2018
- Beekman J.K. et al., Occurrence of 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD) esters and glycidyl esters in infant formulas from Germany, FOOD ADDITIVES & CONTAMINANTS: PART A, 2021
- Cui X. et al., Occurrence of 3- and 2-monochloropropanediol esters in infant formulas in China and exposure assessment, FOOD ADDITIVES & CONTAMINANTS: PART A, 2021