Abstract
3‐Monochloropropane‐1,2‐diol (3‐MCPD), 2,3‐epoxy‐1‐propanol (glycidol), and their fatty acid esters are heat‐induced food toxicants that have widely been investigated. This review study presents an overview of current knowledge about the dietary toxicity of 3‐MCPD, glycidol, and their fatty acid esters. A literature search in two databases from January 2012 to December 2023 yielded 75 eligible articles for this review. The majority (73%) of the articles focused on 3‐MCPD‐ and 3‐MCPD fatty acid ester‐induced toxicities. Nephrotoxicity (32%) was the most studied toxicity, whereas the least studied were carcinogenicity (4%) and hematotoxicity (4%). The metabolism of glycidol and its esters to 3‐MCPD in the gastrointestinal tract remained a subject of contention as studies reported opposing findings. There was also new evidence of 3‐MCPD‐induced reproductive toxicity, hematotoxicity, and nephrotoxicity and 3‐MCPD‐ and glycidol‐induced neurotoxicity and genotoxicity. Findings suggest animal species‐dependency in 3‐MCPD’s carcinogenicity expression. Meanwhile, the 3‐MCPD toxicity mechanism in obese rats is poorly understood. The review recommends further studies into the 3‐MCPD toxicity mechanism in obese rats and the possible conversion of glycidol to 3‐MCPD in gastrointestinal tracts.