Occurrence data on MCPD, free and ester form, and glycidyl esters in various food matrices

This datasets provide data on 3-Monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD), and 2-monochloropropane-1,3-diol (2-MCPD), substances that might be generated in food processing. In order to provide reliable occurrence data on the levels of both bound and free forms of those substances, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) requested the Joint Research Centre (JRC) to develop and test suitable analysis methods on different kinds of food to prioritise future monitoring activities. Provisions for methods of sampling and analysis for the official control of 3-MCPD are laid down in Commission Regulation (EC) No. 836/2011.

This data includes different products/brands in different countries and different shops. More than 600 food items were sampled in 17 EU Member States. About 95% of these samples were acquired in 10 countries, applying a convenience sampling regime. The produced analysis results were reported to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in Standard Sample Description (SSD) format, whereas the analysed food items were coded by FoodEx2 codes. The analytical method used is GC-ITMS.

The data has informed the Scientific Opinion on the risks for human health related to the presence of 3- and 2-monochloropropanediol (MCPD), and their fatty acid esters, and glycidyl fatty acid esters in food adopted by EFSA in 2016.