Determination of 3-MCPD in Some Edible Oils using GC-MS/MS

Abstract

The presence of 3-monochloropropanediol (3-MCPD) in edible oils has been widely reported with its potential health risks. The aim of this study was to apply optimized recent updated and validated enhanced swift analytical indirect method for determining 3-MCPD in consumed edible oils (palm, palm olein, extra virgin olive, corn, sunflower, soybean, olive pomace) and blend of 5% sunflower oil with extra virgin olive oil, using selective and sensitive gas chromatography tandem triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) employing deuterated 3-MCPD (3-MCPD-d5) as internal standard (IS) during the entire analytical procedure to obtain precise and accurate results. The occurrence and variation of 3-MCPD contents among the studied oils were found in different levels ranged from 93.1 µg/kg to 5634.1 µg/kg oil samples, with maximum value assigned for palm oil (5634.1 µg/kg) followed by palm olein (5576.8 µg/kg), corn oil (2447 µg/kg), sunflower oil (1817.3 µg/kg), soybean oil (1486.1 µg/kg), olive pomace oil (572.5 µg/kg), blend of 5% sunflower oil with extra virgin olive oil (210 µg/kg) and extra virgin olive oil (93.1 µg/kg). Palm, palm olein, corn, sunflower and soybean oils were found out of the limits recommended by the Commission Regulation (EU) 2020/1322, whereas, extra virgin olive oil, olive pomace oil and blend of 5% sunflower oil with extra virgin olive oil were in compliance and within the limits recommended by EU. Moreover, 3-MCPD content could be used as a good tool for authenticity and quality of genuine extra virgin olive oil.