Occurrence and risk assessment of 3-and 2-monochloropropanediol (MCPD) esters in vegetable oils and related products from Zhejiang market

3- And 2-monochloropropanediol fatty acid esters (3- and 2-MCPD esters) are contaminants of processed vegetable oils. In this study, vegetable oils and related products available 486 food samples from Zhejiang market were collected and analysed for 3- and 2-MCPD esters during 2016-2018. Food consumption data were taken from a food consumption survey of urban and rural residents in Zhejiang province performed in 2008 using data from 9646 subjects. Levels of 3-MCPD esters in foods ranged from not detected to 8.3 mg/kg, and the highest mean levels were found in vegetable oils with levels of 0.76 mg/kg. Esters of 2-MCPD levels ranged from not detected to 4.0 mg/kg, and the highest mean levels were found in instant noodles containing 0.40 mg/kg. The dietary intake of 3-MCPD was 0.62 mu g/kg bw per day (mean) and 2.29 mu g/kg bw per day (P97.5), and 2-MCPD esters intakes were 0.26 mu g/kg bw per day (mean) and 0.87 mu g/kg bw per day (P97.5). Vegetable oils were the main food source of dietary 3- and 2-MCPD esters intake. These findings suggested that the dietary exposure levels of 3-MCPD esters may pose a potential risk to the health for high consumers (P97.5) aged 4-17 when compared to the tolerable daily intake.