Determination of 2- and 3-MCPD as well as 2- and 3-MCPD Esters and Glycidyl Esters (GE) in Infant and Adult/Pediatric Nutritional Formula by Gas Chromatography Coupled to Mass Spectrometry Method, First Action 2018.03

Background: Monochloropropanediol (MCPD) and its fatty acid esters as well as glycidyl fatty acid esters are substances generated during oil refining or food processing. The free form released during digestion, 3-MCPD and glycidol, have shown adverse effects in animal studies. Objective: So far, the available analytical methods have not been validated in a collaborative study for infant and adult nutritional formulas. This manuscript describes a single-laboratory validation method in view of a future multilaboratory validation trial. Methods: The method described is for the direct determination of 2- and 3-MCPD and indirect determination of 2- and 3-MCPD esters and glycidyl esters in infant and adult/pediatric nutritional formulas by GC coupled to MS. Results: The analytical range was found to be 4–2000 μg/kg powder formula and 0.7–333 μg/kg liquid formula for fatty acid esters of MCPD and glycidol, and 2.5–750 μg/kg samples for free MCPD. The recovery rates were within 91–124% for all samples. Repeatability precision was <20% at levels close to the LOQ. Conclusions: The results met the Standard Method Performance Requirements® (SMPR) set by the AOAC Stakeholder Panel on Infant Formula and Adult Nutritionals. Highlights: The AOAC Expert Review Panel approved the present method as AOAC Official First Action 2018.03.