[2] 3-MCPD, together with its isomer 2-MCPD, is thought to be produced when fat-containing foods are treated at high temperatures with hydrochloric acid.

In 2000, a survey of soy sauces and similar products available in the UK was carried out by the Joint Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food/Department of Health Food Safety and Standards Group (JFSSG) and reported more than half of the samples collected from retail outlets contained various levels of 3-MCPD.

Both chemicals have the potential to cause cancer and the Agency recommended that the affected products be withdrawn from shelves and avoided.

[14][15] In 2001, the FSA and Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) singled out brands and products imported from Thailand, China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

Relatively high levels of the chemical were found in popular brands such as Mother's Pride, Jacobs crackers, John West, Kraft Dairylea and McVitie's Krackawheat.

The same study also found relatively high levels in a range of supermarket own-brands, including Tesco char-grilled beefburgers, Sainsbury's Hot 'n Spicy Chicken Drumsticks and digestive biscuits from Asda.

In 2006 the legal limit for 3-MCPD contained in acid-hydrolysed vegetable protein (HVP) and soy sauce was set at 20μg/kg, the legislation was revised further in 2020 to limit the amount of 3-MCPD across all vegetable oils and fats as well as oils made from marine life which are either produced and made available for consumers or added as an ingredient to other foods.