Contaminants

Determination of MCPDs, MCPD esters and GE in food and baby food

Baby Food News mcpd

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, 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. In January 2018, the EFSA scientific opinion showed that those esterified forms undergo extensive hydrolysis upon ingestion, thus generating a 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 been 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

In 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 September 2020, the Regulation (EU) 2020/1322 amended 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 an update is expected shortly 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 assessment 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 offers

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, GE Mérieux NutriSciences applies the AOAC 2018.03 method.

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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