EU Expands Maximum Levels for Three Contaminants in Infant and Baby Foods
The European Commission has passed two regulations that will set or tighten maximum levels (MLs) for three contaminants in foods intended for infants and young children.
Specifically, Regulation (EU) 2026/1825 expands MLs for 3-monochloropropanediol (3-MCPD) and glycidyl fatty acid esters, and Regulation (EU) 2026/1890 establishes new MLs for furan, 2-methylfuran, and 3-methylfuran.
New and Tightened MLs for 3-MCPD and Glycidyl Fatty Acid Esters
Regulation (EU) 2026/1825 is applicable as of August 19, 2026, with certain provisions for infant formula and cereal-based foods for babies and toddlers coming into effect January 1, 2027. It expands the scope of existing MLs to include 3-monobromopropanediol (3-MBPD) fatty acid esters and 3-monoiodopropanediol (3-MIPD) fatty acid esters.1
The regulation sets the following MLs in baby foods and processed cereal-based food for infants and young children:
- 50 micrograms per kilogram (μg/kg) 3-MCPD
- 25 (μg/kg) glycidyl fatty acid esters.
In oils and fats (from vegetable, fish, and marine sources) intended for use in the production of baby foods and processed cereal-based food for infants and young children:
- 500 μg/kg 3-MCPD, lowered from 750 μg/kg
- 250 μg/kg glycidyl fatty acid esters, lowered from 500 μg/kg.
For composite foods containing greater than 5 percent fat and added vegetable/fish/marine oils and fats, Regulation (EU) 2026/1825 sets MLs of:
- 1,250 μg/kg fat for the sum of 3-MCPD and its fatty acid esters (expressed as 3-MCPD) in coconut, corn, rapeseed, sunflower, soybean, palm kernel, olive oils, and mixtures of these oils
- 2,500 μg/kg fat for the sum of 3-MCPD and its fatty acid esters in other vegetable/fish/marine oils and fats and mixtures
- 1,000 μg/kg fat glycidyl fatty acid esters (expressed as glycidol).
New MLs for Furan and Methylfurans
Regulation (EU) 2026/1890 establishes the following MLs for furan and methyfurans (expressed as furan) in foods for babies and toddlers, applicable after January 1, 20281:
- 40 μg/kg in processed cereal-based foods for infants and young children
- 30 μg/kg in dairy- and fruit-based baby foods and mixed dairy/fruit baby foods
- 80 μg/kg in other baby foods.
References:
- CIRS. “EU Tightens Maximum Levels for Three Contaminants—3-MCPD, Glycidyl Fatty Acid Esters and Furan—in Infant and Young Child Foods.” CIRS. August 28, 2026. https://www.cirs-group.com/en/food/eu-tightens-maximum-levels-for-three-contaminants-3-mcpd-glycidyl-fatty-acid-esters-and-furan-in-infant-and-young-child-foods.
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