Correlation between 3-MCPD Ester and Chloride Contents of Edible Oils in Taiwan

3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD) has been classified as Group 2B, ‘‘possibly carcinogenic to humans’’ by the International Agency on Research on Cancer in 2013. In this study, analyzed the content of 3-MCPD-E of edible oils was determined by using GC / MS, and inorganic chloride content of edible oils was analyzed by using IC. Based on the content of 3-MCPD-E, palm oil (4.72 μg/g)> sunflower oil (1.31 μg/g)> soybean oil (0.44 μg/g)> canola oil (0.22 μg/g)> safflower oil (0.19 μg/g)> corn germ oil (0.18 μg/g)> camellia (0.11 μg/g). Nevertheless, among animal oil products, 3-MCPD-E contents of salted butter (11.15 ~ 7.35 μg/g) and margarine (5.52 μg/g) they were much greater than unsalted butter (<0.02 μg/g) and lard (<0.01 μg/g). Chlorine was found positively correlated with the 3-MCPD-E by using PCA analysis. Nevertheless, 3-MCPD-E in animal oil products (butter, margarine and lard) was positively correlated with inorganic chloride. There were 5.8 μg/g of chlorine amd 4.2 μg/g of inorganic chlorine in crude palm oil, but no 3-MCPD-E. Refining resulted in disappearance of inorganic chloride and occurrence of 3-MCPD-E (2.88 μg/g). The content of 3-MCPD-E was further lowered after second refining process. The data has shown that chloride is an important factor affectively the formation of 3-MCPD-E.