BLC slashes 3-MCPDe levels across portfolio ahead of new EU regulation

21 Apr 2020 --- Bunge Loders Croklaan (BLC), a Dutch supplier in specialty oils and fats for the food industry, has made moves to reduce levels of 3-monochloropropanediol esters (3-MCPDe) in its oils portfolio. This comes ahead of expected European legislation that will impose limits on the potential compound within its market. The potentially harmful compound is found across a broad range of bakery, confectionery, infant food & formula, and processed products.

“We don’t have exact information about the consumer awareness of 3 MCPDe,” a BLC spokespersontells FoodIngredientsFirst. “3 MCPD esters are processing contaminants. This means they are formed during the processing of oils and fats.”

“The actual forming will take place during the refining process and requires elevated temperatures. When the temperatures increase the formation rate will accelerate as well. Today, we have solutions to manage and reduce formation and are able to meet requirements,” they add.

The European Commission (EC) will place new, stricter maximum limits on 3-MCPDe levels in all vegetable and fish oils incorporated into foodstuffs, such as processed cereal-based foods for toddlers, out of concern for the health of young children, especially those aged one to three years. 

“BLC has a long history in producing oils and fats for the intended use in food and infants and are committed to produce safe products of high quality. As a food producer we feel committed to embrace the ALARA principle and make any solution available for our customers. We believe this legislation is a good step forward in regulating the food safety in Europe,” remarks the spokesperson.

These substances are noted as potentially harmful and occur when vegetable oils are exposed to high temperatures in the refining process. New legal limits for vegetable oils in the above described product categories will be 750µg/kg for 3-MCPDe. The new 3-MCPDe legislation is expected to become effective in January 2021.

Other categories of the new regulations set maximum 3-MCPDe limits for products intended for general consumers to 1,250µg/kg for named, non-virgin oils and to 2,500µg/kg for all other oils, including palm, shea, and fish oil. These new 3-MCPDe limits are complementary to existing GE levels that were already in place since 2018.

“We are positioned to ensure food companies can transition smoothly into conformity with the regulations by next January,” says David Vandermeersch, Vice President of BLC in Europe. “We also will serve companies that, irrespective of the looming regulations, are seeking the lowest levels of 3-MCPDe and GE (glycidyl esters) on the market. We can tailor our full portfolio of oil offerings to meet their specific needs and clean label aspirations.”

Click to EnlargeThe newly tightened food safety regulations will largely impact food companies operating in the bakery, confectionery, and infant food and formula sectors. Consistent mitigation efforts
BLC has made new processing advances and has taken expansive steps throughout its integrated supply chain that allow it to offer a full range of solutions at levels even below the newly delineated standards for 3-MCPDe and GE. The company has offered a fully mitigated oils and fats portfolio in Europe since 2017.

“We work with a select group of mills before the raw materials are transferred to our European refineries, where the oil undergoes a gentle, low-heat refining process,” explains Renee Boerefijn, Director of Innovation for BLC EMEA. 

“We take advantage of having industry’s most globally integrated supply chain and can adapt and improve our supply of oils and fats all the way to the point of origin. Combined with our state-of-the art facilities and monitoring techniques, we ensure our products meet the latest food safety and quality standards,” he says.

Over the last five years, the company has been heavily investing in hardware and software capabilities in its facilities to achieve record low levels of the substances. By 2016, BLC was at the forefront in low 3-MCPDe and GE levels for the infant food category. The company also developed an analytical technique, measuring contaminants in near real-time that is in the process of becoming an industry standard (ISO/NEN).

The newly tightened food safety regulations will largely impact food companies operating in the bakery, confectionery, and infant food and formula sectors. Manufacturers will need to realign the fat formulation of their products to meet the new standards before January 2021 deadlines.

“Food manufacturers need to be better informed ahead of time of the implications that the pending changes in legislation will have in their businesses,” notes Feike Swennenhuis, Marketing Director for EMEA.

BLC conducted an exclusive webinar to explain the effect of the new regulation and what the company can do to help its customers implement this into their food production process. Click here to access the full webinar.

By Benjamin Ferrer

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