2-Monochloropropanediol (2-MCPD), 3-Monochloropropanediol (3-MCPD), and Glycidol in Infant and Adult/Pediatric Nutritional Formula: Single-Laboratory Validation, First Action 2018.12.

Fatty acid esters of glycidol, 2-Monochloropropanediol (MCPD), and 3-MCPD are heat-induced foodborne processing contaminants with possible adverse health effects. These compounds occur frequently in refined edible oils. Consequently, glycidyl esters and 2- and 3-MCPD esters might also be present in foods that contain refined edible oils. This manuscript describes the single-laboratory validation of an analytical method for the quantitative determination of glycidol, 2-MCPD, and 3-MCPD present as fatty acid esters or as free 2- or 3-MCPD in infant and adult/pediatric nutritional formula. Technically, the presented method is based on the combination of a Heat-Ultrasound Pressure-supported Solvent Extraction and a GC-MS determination of glycidol, 2-MCPD, and 3-MCPD. From a chemical perspective, the method includes an alkaline catalyzed transesterification, conversion of the unstable glycidol into monobromopropanediol, and the parallel derivatization of all analytes with phenylboronic acid. Validation results showed that method linearity for all analytes in powdered and liquid infant formula ranged from 0.9981 to 0.9999 ( = 18). Repeatability relative standard deviation values for concentration levels between 1.3 μg/kg and 331 μg/kg were in the range of 1 to 12%. Relative recoveries were found to be between 93 and 107%. The analytes were quantifiable down to 5-10 μg/kg in powdered samples and 1-2 μg/kg in liquid samples. The reported results met actual AOAC In terms of consumer protection, the presented method is a novel approach for the sensitive and accurate determination of glycidol, 2-MCPD, and 3-MCPD in infant formula and related foodstuffs.