Updated occurrence of 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol esters (3-MCPD) and glycidyl esters in infant formulas purchased in the United States between 2017 and 2019. 2020

Jessica K Beekman, and Kaitlin Grassi, and Shaun MacMahon
United States Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, College Park, MD, USA.

Fatty acid esters of 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD) and glycidol are potentially carcinogenic and/or genotoxic processing contaminants that are formed during the process of edible oil refining. Because of their toxicological properties, the presence of these compounds in refined oils and foods containing these oils, particularly infant formula, poses a potential food safety concern. For this reason, recent research efforts have focussed on the development of methods for the analysis of MCPD and glycidyl esters in infant formula in order to estimate levels of exposure. This work presents occurrence data for 3-MCPD and glycidyl esters in 222 infant formulas purchased in the United States between December 2017 and January 2019. The results of this study show a wide range of contaminant concentrations across four different manufacturers, with average bound 3-MCPD concentrations ranging from 0.035 µg g-1 to 0.63 µg g-1 and average bound glycidol concentrations ranging from 0.019 µg g-1 to 0.22 µg g-1. The data suggest that manufacturers B and C source palm oil produced with mitigation measures, leading to reduced amounts of 3-MCPD and glycidyl esters in their infant formulas. Additionally, comparison with a previously published study in our laboratory of the occurrence of 3-MCPD and glycidyl esters in infant formula purchased in the U.S. between 2013 and 2016 revealed that, since 2016, contaminant concentrations have decreased in products produced by manufacturers A, B, and C, while contaminant amounts in formulas from manufacturer D have slightly increased.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D004852 Epoxy Compounds Organic compounds that include a cyclic ether with three ring atoms in their structure. They are commonly used as precursors for POLYMERS such as EPOXY RESINS. Epoxide,Epoxides,Epoxy Compound,Oxiranes,Compound, Epoxy,Compounds, Epoxy
D004952 Esters Compounds derived from organic or inorganic acids in which at least one hydroxyl group is replaced by an –O-alkyl or another organic group. They can be represented by the structure formula RCOOR’ and are usually formed by the reaction between an acid and an alcohol with elimination of water. Ester
D005227 Fatty Acids Organic, monobasic acids derived from hydrocarbons by the equivalent of oxidation of a methyl group to an alcohol, aldehyde, and then acid. Fatty acids are saturated and unsaturated (FATTY ACIDS, UNSATURATED). (Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed) Aliphatic Acid,Esterified Fatty Acid,Fatty Acid,Fatty Acids, Esterified,Fatty Acids, Saturated,Saturated Fatty Acid,Aliphatic Acids,Acid, Aliphatic,Acid, Esterified Fatty,Acid, Saturated Fatty,Esterified Fatty Acids,Fatty Acid, Esterified,Fatty Acid, Saturated,Saturated Fatty Acids
D000517 alpha-Chlorohydrin A chlorinated PROPANEDIOL with antifertility activity in males used as a chemosterilant in rodents. alpha-Chlorhydrin,3-Chloro-1,2-propanediol,3-Chloropropanediol,3-MCPD,3-Monochloropropane-1,2-diol,Glycerol alpha-Monochlorohydrin,U-5897,3 Chloro 1,2 propanediol,3 Chloropropanediol,3 Monochloropropane 1,2 diol,Glycerol alpha Monochlorohydrin,U 5897,U5897,alpha Chlorhydrin,alpha Chlorohydrin,alpha-Monochlorohydrin, Glycerol
D014481 United States A country in NORTH AMERICA between CANADA and MEXICO.
D041943 Infant Formula Formulations for the nutrition of infants that are substituted for BREAST MILK. Baby Formula,Baby Formulas,Formula, Baby,Formula, Infant,Formulas, Baby,Formulas, Infant,Infant Formulas
D020005 Propanols Isomeric forms and derivatives of PROPANOL (C3H7OH). Alcohols, Propyl,Propyl Alcohols

Related Publications

Jessica K Beekman, and Kaitlin Grassi, and Shaun MacMahon
October 2021, Food additives & contaminants. Part A, Chemistry, analysis, control, exposure & risk assessment,
Jessica K Beekman, and Kaitlin Grassi, and Shaun MacMahon
June 2016, Journal of agricultural and food chemistry,
Jessica K Beekman, and Kaitlin Grassi, and Shaun MacMahon
January 2022, Critical reviews in food science and nutrition,
Jessica K Beekman, and Kaitlin Grassi, and Shaun MacMahon
January 2009, Roczniki Panstwowego Zakladu Higieny,
Jessica K Beekman, and Kaitlin Grassi, and Shaun MacMahon
June 2011, Journal of agricultural and food chemistry,
Jessica K Beekman, and Kaitlin Grassi, and Shaun MacMahon
March 2017, Food additives & contaminants. Part A, Chemistry, analysis, control, exposure & risk assessment,
Jessica K Beekman, and Kaitlin Grassi, and Shaun MacMahon
January 2013, Food additives & contaminants. Part A, Chemistry, analysis, control, exposure & risk assessment,
Jessica K Beekman, and Kaitlin Grassi, and Shaun MacMahon
August 2020, Journal of oleo science,
Copied contents to your clipboard!