Determination of 3-MCPD and 2-MCPD esters in edible oils, fish oils and lipid fractions of margarines available on Polish market

•The screening research on MCPD esters levels in various food products is covered.•Applied analytical methodology is based on smooth alkaline transesterification.•Bound MCPD was not detectable in virgin, cold-pressed edible oils.•Significant amounts of bound MCPD were found in lipid fractions of margarines.•High amounts of bound MCPD were detected in fish oils from dietary supplements.

3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD) and 2-monochloropropane-1,3-diol (2-MCPD) are intensively investigated food contaminants, which recently emerged as a serious problem within the discovery of high levels of their fatty acid esters in lipid samples. In order to monitor the concentrations of mentioned toxicants in edible oils and fats, several analytical methods have been developed so far. This paper presents the screening research on bound 3-MCPD and bound 2-MCPD contents in edible oils, fish oils (in the form of dietary supplements) and lipid fractions of margarines available on retail market in Poland. Applied SGS “3-in-1” methodology developed by Kuhlmann (2011) was based on mild alkaline transesterification reaction. MCPD esters were not detected in cold-pressed, non-refined edible oils. In all samples of refined oils and products, containing lipid fraction consisting of refined fats, bound 3-MCPD and 2-MCPD were detected. The highest amounts of analytes were present in lipid fractions of margarines and dietary supplements containing refined fish oils (7,3 and 5.5 mg kg−1 respectively).