A survey of 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD) in soy sauce and other similar products available in China has been completed. Thirty samples of soy, oyster sauce and other sauces were purchased from six supermarkets in Beijing during March and April 2000 and analysed using a validated method of analysis by capillary gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection. The UK Food Advisory Committee (FAC) has advised a level of 0.01 mg/kg for 3-MCPD. Following reports that high levels had been detected in some brands of soy sauce in China. 3-MCPD was undetectable with a detection limit of 0.01 mg/kg in 15 of the 30 samples analyzed in the survey, with a further 4 samples (13.3%) containing very low levels of between 0.01 and 0.02 mg/kg. However, 5 samples (16.7%) contained 3-MCPD levels above 1 mg/kg.