FOOD SCIENCE ›› 2019, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (10): 311-317.doi: 10.7506/spkx1002-6630-20180305-048

• Safety Detection • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Optimized Detection and Pollution Exposure of Chloropropanol Fatty Acid Esters in Infant Formula

ZHANG Ni, ZHOU Jing*, HU Shoujiang, YE Qing, PENG Yafeng, LU Yi   

  1. Shanghai Institute of Quality Inspection and Technical Research, Shanghai 200233, China
  • Online:2019-05-25 Published:2019-05-31

Abstract: Objective: A method for the simultaneous determination of the contents of 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol ester (3-MCPDE), 2-monochloropropane-1,3-diol ester (2-MCPDE), 1,3-dichloropropane-2-ol ester (1,3-DCPE) and 2,3-dichloropropane-1-ol ester (2,3-DCPE) in infant formula was established by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A total of 50 infant formula samples sold in Shanghai were researched for the pollution levels of four chloropropanol fatty acid esters (CPFAEs). Also we assessed the dietary exposure of infants to CPFAEs in infant formula. Methods: Fat was extracted from samples, followed by alkali hydrolysis, solid-phase extraction purification through a diatomite column and derivatization with heptafluoro butyrylimidazole before being injected into the GC-MS system. The analytes were quantified by the internal standard method. Results: The method showed a good linear relationship in the concentration range of 20–600 ng/mL (r2 ≥ 0.998 9). The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were 0.005 and 0.015 mg/kg, respectively (calculated as chlorpropanol). The recoveries of the four chloropropanols esters spiked at 0.03, 0.075 and 0.15 mg/kg were between 82.2%–113.9%, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of less than 8.3%. 3-MCPDE and 2-MCPDE were detected in 100.0% and 42.0% of the 50 infant formula samples with contamination levels in the range of 0.037–0.208 mg/kg and ND–0.060 mg/kg, respectively. However, 1,3-DCPE and 2,3-DCPE were not detected in any sample. The average exposure to CPFAEs in infant formula were 3.86, 2.00 and 1.07 μg/kg for infants aged 0–6, 6–12 and 12–36 months, respectively. Conclusion: The method was easy to operate with good accuracy and reliability, and suitable for the determination of CPFAEs in infant formula. The health risk of CPFAEs through the intake of infant formula for infants should be a major concern.

Key words: chloropropanols fatty acid esters, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), infant formula

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