Shaun MacMahon
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
USA
Title: LC-MS/MS detection of MCPD and glycidyl esters in infant formula: Extraction procedures and occurrence studies of market infant formulas
Biography
Biography: Shaun MacMahon
Abstract
Fatty acid esters of 3-chloro-1,2-propanediol (3-MCPD) and glycidol are process-induced chemical contaminants found in refined edible vegetable oils. Formed during the industrial processing of oils, 3-MCPD and glycidyl esters are considered potentially carcinogenic and/or genotoxic, making their presence in edible oils (and processed foods containing these oils) a potential health risk. Recently, increased attention has focused on the use of refined vegetable oils in commercial infant formulas. A novel approach for the detection 3-MCPD and glycidyl esters in infant formula will be discussed. Quantitation of the esters was performed using a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method that was previously validated for the quantitation of these species in edible oils. Results of the validation indicate that recoveries ranging between 85 and 115% can be achieved for the most abundant 3-MCPD and glycidyl esters. This newly developed methodology was then applied to determine the concentrations of 3-MCPD and glycidyl esters in commercially available infant formulae from both the United States and Europe.