Analysis of 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MPCD) in the UK diet: 2001 Total Diet Study

3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD) is one of a group of chemical contaminants known as chloropropanols. It occurs at low levels in many foods and food ingredients as a result of processing or storage conditions.

A survey of the levels of 3-MCPD in samples from the 2001 Total Diet Study (TDS) has been completed. No 3-MCPD was detected in 14 of the 20 food groups analysed. The highest level of 3-MCPD, found at 33 micrograms/kg was grmiscellaneous cereals, followed by fish at 19 micrograms/kg and bread at 11 micrograms/kg. Levels of 3-MCPD of between 4 micrograms/kg and 6 micrograms/kg were found in meat products, poultry and oils and fats.

The results of this survey were used in conjunction with consumption data from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) to estimate dietary exposure intakes for UK consumers. For average consumers the dietary intake of 3-MCPD is 0.10 micrograms/kg per bodyweight (bw) per day for adults, 0.18 micrograms/kg bw/day for young people aged 4 to 18 and 0.28 micrograms/kg bw/day for toddlers aged 1.5 to 4.5 years. For high level consumers it is 0.21 micrograms/kg bw/day for adults, 0.38 micrograms/kg bw/day for young people aged 4 to 18 and 0.58 micrograms/kg bw/day for toddlers aged 1.5 to 4.5 years.

These estimates are all well below the Total Dietary Intake (TDI), of 2 micrograms/kg bw/day recommended by the European Union Scientific Committee on Food (SCF), and Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), and therefore do not pose any cause for concern. The estimated exposure for young people and toddlers is higher than for adults and this can be accounted for by the greater amount of food that these age groups consume per unit of bodyweight. Consumers are therefore advised that they do not need to change their diet as a result of these findings.