2-MCPD

2-MCPD (2-chloropropane-1,3-diol) is an organic chemical compound with the formula ClCH(CH2(OH))2. It is a colorless liquid. The compound has attracted notoreity as a food contaminant. Together with the 3-MCPD, it is one of two chloropropanols food contaminants. It is suspected to be carcinogenic in humans.

2-MCPD, together with its isomer 3-MCPD, is thought to be produced when fat-containing foods are treated at high temperatures with hydrochloric acid. Such treatments are sometimes used to accelerate protein hydrolysis, making food more digestable. In such a treatment chloride is thought to react with the glycerol backbone of lipids to produce 2- and 3-MCPD.