A pilot survey of 2- and 3-monochloropropanediol and glycidol fatty acid esters in baby formula on the Canadian market 2012-2013

Occurrence of 2- and 3-monochloropropanediol esters and glycidol esters (MCPDEs and GEs) in 34 baby formulae on the Canadian market was examined. Products were purchased in 2012 and again in 2013. GEs - esters of palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids - were determined via direct analytical approach by stable isotope dilution analysis (SIDA) LC-MS/MS using glycidol-d5 labelled standards. For the analysis of MCPDEs (expressed as free MCPD equivalents), one 2-MCPD-d5 and one 3-MCPD-d5 labelled diesters were employed using indirect analytical approach. MCPDs were determined by SIDA GC-MS in SIM mode. 2- and 3-MCPDEs were detected (at levels >2 ng/g and >6 ng/g, expressed as free monochloropropanediol (MCPD) equivalents respectively) in 15 samples in 2012 and in 14 samples in 2013. The levels of 2-MCPDs reached maxima of 47 ng/g in 2012 samples and 32 ng/g in 2013 samples. The levels of 3-MCPDs reached maxima of 89 ng/g in 2012 samples and 80 ng/g in 2013 samples. The levels of sum of MCPDs detected in 2013 samples were lower as compared to 2012, with respective means of 26 and 43 and maxima of 108 and 135 ng/g. The ratio of 3- to 2-MCPD in samples varied from 1.6 to 3.6 with the median of 2.56. GEs were detected (at levels >2 ng/g for each individual GE expressed as glycidol equivalent) in 12 samples in 2012 and in 8 samples in 2013. The levels of GEs expressed as glycidol equivalents reached maxima of 70 ng/g in the 2012 samples and 40 ng/g in the samples collected in 2013 with respective means of 21 ng/g and 20 ng/g.