Discrimination of processing grades of olive oil and other vegetable oils by monochloropropanediol esters and glycidyl esters

Abstract In this study, the processing derived contaminants 2- and 3-monochloropropanediol (2- and 3-MCPD) esters and glycidyl esters (GEs) were analysed in 84 oil samples by GC–MS/MS for the discrimination of processing grades of olive oils as a potential authentication tool. Concentrations of 2- and 3-MCPD esters and GEs varied in the ranges 0–6 mg/kg, 0–1.5 mg/kg, and 0–1 mg/kg oil, respectively. The concentrations of the three compounds in lower grade olive oils were significantly higher (P