3-MCPD in Food Lipids
Justyna Gromadzka, Agnieszka Głowacz, Renata Jędrkiewicz, Magdalena Kupska, Department of Analytical Chemistry, Chemical Faculty, Gdansk University of Technology,
11/12 Narutowicza Str., 80-233 Gdańsk, Poland
justyna@gromadzcy.pl

The 3-monochloro-1,2-propanediol (3-MCPD) is food contaminant of genotoxic and carcinogenic activity identified mainly in fatty products. It mainly emerges in industrial thermal processes. Chloride ions, glycerol and tri-, di- and monoacylglycerols are precursors of the 3-MCPD. The main source of 3-MCPD in diet are hydrolyzed vegetable proteins and soy sauces. In recent decade it was also identified in other foodstuff like cereal products, coffee, smoked products, malt derivatives, products made on the basis of milk powder. In 2006 the high concentration of MCPD esters were also identified in edible oils and fats. The highest concentration levels were recorded in refined oils, while in a virgin cold-pressed oils the 3-MCPD content was often below the LOD of the analytical method. Similarly, with animal fats - untransformed as milk fat, lard and tallow contain traces of MCPD, while fish oil, subjected to refining processes contains typically significant amounts of MCPD esters. High levels of MCPD esters were also found in the fat derived from milk powder and infants food as well as mothers' breast milk.
The most common analytical procedure for determination of 3-MCPD in lipids is multi-stage and consists the extraction of 3-MCPD esters, their hydrolysis, derivatization, extraction with organic solvents, and then identification by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in the presence of isotopically labeled internal standard.
The aim of presented research was to determine 3-MCPD content in different food lipids like edible oils and fats (palm oil, rapeseed, olive and sunflower oils, fish oils), infant foods and human breast milk by using gas chromatography combined with mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

Acknowledgements
This research was financially supported by the National Centre for Research and Development within LIDER project (grant No 171/L-3/2011)