3-MCPD and glycidyl esters in infant formulas from the Brazilian market: Occurrence and risk assessment

- 3-MCPDE and GE were analyzed in Brazilian infant formulas.
- Significant amounts of 3-MCPDE and GE were found in these products.
- Consumption of infant formulas may pose a potential health risk for children.

High concentrations of esters of 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPDE) and glycidol (GE) have been reported in infant formulas due to the use of refined vegetable oils that may contain high levels of these contaminants. Commercial infant formulas available on the Brazilian market (n = 40) were analyzed for the first time for 3-MCPDE and GE using a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method. For 3-MCPDE, the limits of detection (LOD) and quantitation (LOQ) were 0.08 mg/kg and 0.16 mg/kg, respectively. For GE, the LOD and LOQ were 0.10 mg/kg and 0.20 mg/kg, respectively. Mean recoveries varied from 93 to 108% for 3-MCPDE and from 82 to 97% for GE. Levels of 3-MCPDE in the products ranged from not detected to 0.60 mg/kg whereas concentrations of GE ranged from not detected to 0.75 mg/kg. A theoretical preliminary exposure assessment showed that 3-MCPDE and GE intakes were up to 5.81 and 10.46 μg/kg body weight/day, respectively, in a worst case scenario (95th percentile). According to the results obtained in this study, the levels of 3-MCPDE and GE in infant formulas marketed in Brazil may pose a potential risk to the health of the consumers of these products and need to be constantly monitored.