What is MCPD – and is it dangerous for your horse?

You may have heard that palm oil can contain a substance called MCPD .
But what is it really – and is it something you should be concerned about in horse feed?

What is MCPD?

MCPD stands for monochloropropanediol and is found in two forms:
• 3-MCPD (3-monochloro-1,2-propanediol)
• 2-MCPD (2-monochloro-1,3-propanediol)

These substances are typically formed at high heat during the processing of vegetable oils – especially refining above 160–200 °C , where salts are also present.

MCPD is found in small amounts in many human foods, such as:

• In all types of vegetable oils (e.g. palm, soy, sunflower)
• Fried products, including meat
• Baked goods
• Nut butter and infant formula

Why are we talking about MCPD?

3-MCPD is suspected of being carcinogenic and has been shown to be nephrotoxic and reproductively toxic in animal studies.
Therefore, both EFSA (EU) and WHO have set limit values.

🧮 How much is too much?

The tolerable daily intake (TDI) for 3-MCPD is:
2 micrograms per kg body weight per day
→ For a 500 kg horse, this corresponds to 1,000 micrograms = 1 milligram per day .

🌴 How much MCPD is in palm oil?

The content varies, but the global average for palm oil is around:
2.9 mg 3-MCPD per kg oil

(The EU has set a limit of 2.5 mg/kg, and many manufacturers are actively working to lower the level further.)

🔍 Example: MCPD in Every Day Happy

Every Day Happy contains 2% palm oil .
At a daily dose of 250–300 g of feed, this corresponds to:
→ 12.5–15 g palm oil

Calculation example:
2.9 mg/kg × 15 g = 0.0435 mg 3-MCPD per day
= approximately 1/23 of the tolerable daily intake (TDI) for a 500 kg horse.

👉 In other words: The horse must eat over 7 kg of Every Day Happy daily to reach the limit value - which is far above the recommended dose , even at high build-up amounts.

🧪 Has the palm oil in Every Day Happy been tested?

The palm oil we use is not directly analyzed for MCPD , as it is primarily monitored and controlled at the processing stage .

But: Our oil is analyzed for a wide range of other critical substances , including:

• Fungicides and pesticides (about 30 different ones)
• PCBs – both dioxin-like and non-dioxin-like
• Endocrine disruptors

✅ All measured substances are below the limit values ​​- or cannot be measured at all.

⏳ How is MCPD broken down in the body?

1. Recording:
3-MCPD and its esters are rapidly absorbed in the intestine. The esters are broken down and release 3-MCPD, which is then absorbed into the bloodstream.

2. Metabolism:
The substance is broken down in the liver and binds to glutathione – a natural antioxidant that the body produces itself when there is sufficient protein, selenium, and vitamins E and C in the feed.

3. Excretion:
The substance is excreted via the urine with a half-life of 2–4 hours .
3-MCPD esters are excreted slightly more slowly, but still within a day .

👉 For comparison: Dioxins have a half-life of approximately 11 years – and therefore pose a significantly greater risk in terms of accumulation in the body.

✅ Conclusion

The amount of MCPD potentially found in the very small amounts of palm oil in Regulator Complete's products is far below the limit values ​​– and not something that poses a risk to the horse's health .

Palm oil in our products:

• Used as a technical aid to bind the pills
• Has better oxidative stability than many other oils
• Contributes positively to nerve function and fatty acid balance
• Is certified sustainably grown

👉 In other words, there is good reason to use palm oil when it is properly processed and used in small, controlled quantities – and no reason to worry about MCPD in this context.

📚 Sources:

• EFSA Journal 2016: Read here
• WHO/FAO JECFA assessment: Read here
• EU Regulation 2020/1322: Read here