3-MCPD and glycidol in infant formula
Esters of 2- and 3-MCPD (monochloropropanediol) can be found in food products containing vegetable oils due to their formation during the refining process. It is important to note that 3-MCPD has been classified as potentially carcinogenic to humans, while glycidol is considered carcinogenic and genotoxic. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has established a tolerable daily intake (TDI) of 0.8 μg/kg body weight for 3-MCPD. Although no specific TDI value is available for glycidol and glycidyl esters, their presence should be minimized according to the ALARA principle (As Low As Reasonably Achievable). Among all food products, infant formula is of utmost concern due to its consumption by non-breastfed infants with relatively low body weight. To address this issue, a reliable and rapid method for the determination of 3-MCPD and glycidol in infant formula is essential. The presented procedure utilizes pressurized solvent extraction with the SpeedExtractor E-916, a Buchi Product, for the efficient extraction of infant formula samples. This method ensures fast and reliable analysis of 3-MCPD and glycidol levels in infant formula.