Food News

... and found higher concentrations of 3-MCPD and glycidyl esters in 11 out of 19 products.

3-MCPD was already classified as possibly carcinogenic by the experts of the IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) in 2011. Animal studies indicate that contamination with 3-MCPD esters, which can occur in deep-frying fats, for example, can cause kidney damage.

3-MCPD fatty acid esters are esters of various fatty acids with 3-chloro-1,2-propanediol (3-MCPD, 3-monochloropropanediol). They are formed during the complex purification process (refining) of vegetable oils at high temperatures from the triglycerides (fats) in the presence of chlorine (e.g. from chlorides).

The EFSA has set a maximum permissible daily intake level for 3-MCPD of 2 µg/kg body weight. It is formed in the body during the digestive process from 3-MCPD and glycidyl fatty acid esters ingested with food.

Menu composition can result in questionable values 

According to calculations of the magazine, a child with a body weight of 30 kg could have already exhausted 50 % of this maximum daily dose by eating 5 fish fingers (approx. 150 g) from certain suppliers. If a roll with a lot of nut nougat cream (containing a lot of hardened palm fat) was served for breakfast and a portion of chips was served with the fish fingers at lunchtime, the situation could become critical.

If a manufacturer of the tested products performs poorly in such a comparison, this means immense damage to its image, because not only the readers of the consumer magazine could base their future purchasing decisions on the test results, but also other media usually report very widely on these test reports, as this case has also shown.

 
YOUR PLUS: Close cooperation with AGROLAB's specialists can effectively minimise risks. This starts with advice on sensible test plans, a risk-based examination of all raw materials used, right through to the final testing of the marketability of the finished products.

Author: Dr. Frank Mörsberger