Food Standards Agency
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Listen to this siteWednesday 11 December 2002
Category B: For Action
Heads of Environmental Health Services and Directors of Trading Standards will wish to be aware of the results of a survey by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) of 3-MCPD and 1,3-DCP in soy sauce and related products in retail outlets.
This survey was a follow up to that released in June 2001 (ref: Food Hazard Warning 26/2001). Significantly fewer samples containing high levels of chloropropanols were found in this survey compared with the initial one.
3-MCPD (3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol) and 1,3-DCP (1,3-dichloropropanol) both belong to a group of chemical contaminants known as chloropropanols.
3-MCPD has been found in many foods and food ingredients as a result of processing.
It has most frequently been found at high levels in soy sauces and the savoury food ingredient acid-hydrolysed vegetable protein (acid-HPV).
1,3-DCP is a derivative of 3-MCPD and has therefore also been found to occur in soy sauces and acid-HVP.
3-MCPD is the most common of the chloropropanols and is present at higher levels in soy sauces and acid HVP than 1,3-DCP.
There is concern that these chemicals could cause harm to people, particularly if consumed at high levels over a long period of time.
Back to topThe survey identified six products that exceeded the legal limit for 3-MCPD as listed below. Additionally the product with the highest level of 3-MCPD had a detected level of 1,3-DCP.
Further assistance in identifying the products can be obtained from the FSA website and the (External) LACORS website where photographs are available.
Commission Regulation (EC) No 466/2001 came into force on 5 April 2002 and set a legal limit of 0.02 mg/kg for 3-MCPD in soy sauce based on 40% dry matter content.
The products below were found in the survey with levels of 3-MCPD that exceed the legal limit.
Product Description:
Product description/name:
Supreme Low Salt Soy Sauce
Brand:
Flower Brand
Pack/container size:
1 litre
Best Before Date:
15/03/2003
Batch number:
Not declared
Country of Origin:
Vietnam
Sample result (3-MCPD mg/kg):
0.027
Sample result (1,3-DCP mg/kg):
<0.003
Product description/name:
Supreme Soy Sauce
Brand:
Exotic Food
Pack/container size:
300ml
Best Before Date:
End December 2004
Batch number:
SC3500
TSSA 1348
PO.NO. C2001863
Country of Origin:
Not declared
Sample result (3-MCPD mg/kg):
35.922
Sample result (1,3-DCP mg/kg):
0.017
Product description/name:
Soy Sauce
Brand:
Silver Swan
Pack/container size:
1000ml
Best Before Date:
May 2004
Batch number:
FR-1279
H02 0414
Country of Origin:
Philippines
Sample result (3-MCPD mg/kg):
2.161
Sample result (1,3-DCP mg/kg):
<0.003
Product description/name:
Kicap Manis
Brand:
Adabi
Pack/container size:
340ml
Best Before Date:
20/11/04
Batch number:
1
Country of Origin:
Not declared
Sample result (3-MCPD mg/kg):
0.13
Sample result (1,3-DCP mg/kg):
<0.003
Product description/name:
Superior Light Soy Sauce
Brand:
Hai Tian Brand
Pack/container size:
150ml
Best Before Date:
30/10/2003
Batch number:
Not declared
Country of Origin:
China
Sample result (3-MCPD mg/kg):
0.035
Sample result (1,3-DCP mg/kg):
<0.003
Product description/name:
Soy Sauce
Brand:
Marca Pina
Pack/container size:
640ml
Best Before Date:
June 2004
Batch number:
Not declared
Country of Origin:
Philippines
Sample result (3-MCPD mg/kg):
0.085
Sample result (1,3-DCP mg/kg):
<0.003
* Sample results for 3-MCPD are given normalised to 40% dry matter content
Action Taken by the Food Standards Agency:
The FSA has contacted the importers/distributors and retailers as below.
Importers/distributors contacted by the Food Standards Agency:
Retail outlets contacted by the Food Standards Agency:
The FSA has also issued a press release today and Q & A briefing that can be found, along with full details of the survey, on the website.
Action to be taken by local authorities:
The products detailed above do not comply with the food safety requirements specified in the Food Safety Act 1990 due to contamination with 3- MCPD.
Although the survey was of soy sauce found in retail outlets, this does not necessarily mean that distribution is solely to these types of premises.
Local authorities are, therefore, requested to contact all retail outlets, wholesalers/distributors and catering outlets who may sell such products to ensure they are withdrawn from sale.
The decision as to whether to visit premises or to contact relevant businesses by other means is left to the discretion of local authorities.
If the products are discovered, enforcement officers should ensure that they are withdrawn from sale and destroyed, if necessary using powers under the Food Safety Act 1990.
In wholesale/cash and carry premises, officers should endeavour to trace distribution of the affected products and ensure that distributed products are removed from retail sale or use in catering outlets (if necessary by liaising with other local authorities).
Local liaison between Trading Standards and Environmental Health Departments is encouraged.
Local Authorities are requested to action the food hazard warning as soon as possible after receipt.
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