Biomaterial Database

Preliminary assessments of population exposure to glycidyl esters and 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol esters from miscellaneous oil-containing packaged foods in Taiwan. 2024

Yu-Hsuan Chang, and Kai-Wei Liao, and Zih-Ee Lin, and Wei-Ju Lee

Master Program in Food Safety, College of Nutrition, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.

Glycidyl esters (GEs) and 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol esters (3-MCPDEs) are carcinogenic contaminants found in refined oils. This study aimed to determine levels of GEs and 3-MCPDEs in packaged foodstuffs, and estimate daily exposure levels using food consumption data. The analysis involved Soxtec extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and the recovery of spiked GEs and 3-MCPDEs was within the range of 80%∼110%. Results showed that GEs and 3-MCPDEs were almost ubiquitous in food products (95%), with the highest concentrations found in processed fats, followed by cookies and spreads. Food products containing palm-derived oils had significantly higher levels of contaminants (p < 0.05), with up to 58.1% of palm oil-containing foodstuffs exceeding the upper limits of either GEs or 3-MCPDEs set by the European Union. Cookies and instant noodles were identified as the main sources of exposure to GEs and 3-MCPDEs, with potential daily intake levels exceeding the tolerable daily intakes in children aged 0 ∼ 12 years.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D010938	Plant Oils	Oils derived from plants or plant products.	Oils, Plant,Oils, Vegetable,Plant Oil,Vegetable Oil,Vegetable Oils,Oil, Plant,Oil, Vegetable
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
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
D005506	Food Contamination	The presence in food of harmful, unpalatable, or otherwise objectionable foreign substances, e.g. chemicals, microorganisms or diluents, before, during, or after processing or storage.	Food Adulteration,Adulteration, Food,Adulterations, Food,Contamination, Food,Contaminations, Food,Food Adulterations,Food Contaminations
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000073878	Palm Oil	Nutritive oil extracted from the fleshy mesocarp of the fruit of the African palm tree, Elaeis guineensis.	Palmolein,Oil, Palm
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
D013624	Taiwan	Country in eastern Asia, islands bordering the East China Sea, Philippine Sea, South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait, north of the Philippines, off the southeastern coast of China. The capital is Taipei. The alternate country name is Republic of China.	Formosa,Republic of China