A monitoring study of glyceroltriheptanoate (GTH) in animal by-products through a validated GC–MS analytical method

According to Commission Regulation (EU) No 142/2011, animal by-products (ABPs) not intended for human consumption should be excluded from the food chain, as they are a potential source of risks to public and animal health. As an example, in recent years an improper use of certain ABPs brought to a spread of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). Therefore, Commission Regulation (EU) 142/2009 forces producers to mark permanently the ABPs not intended for human consumption (category 1 and category 2), with glyceroltriheptanoate (GTH). All EU Member States have the duty to control the content of GTH in ABPs, which should be present homogenously throughout the substance at a minimum concentration of at least 250 mg GTH per kg fat. Starting from a Joint Research Centre procedure (von Holst, Boix, Bellorini, Androni, & Serano, 2009), a method based on gas chromatography coupled to mass spectroscopy (GC–MS) was studied and validated as stated by Regulation 882/2004, providing an efficient tool for both official and in-house laboratories. Moreover, a monitoring study on seventeen samples collected throughout Italy by the Official Veterinary Service in rendering industries was carried out. Eight samples were not compliant with Commission Regulation (EU) No 142/2011, as their GTH concentration ranged from 224 mg kg−1 to values below the lower range limit. Results found satisfied the requirements of European Union analytical methods validation criteria (Regulation (EC) No 882/2004).