Toxic bread: Centre may ban food additive

DHNS

Food regulator recommends ban of potassium bromate

New Delhi, 25 May 2016: The Centre is set to ban use of potassium bromate as food additive in the next 15 days, following a CSE study that claimed presence of cancer-causing chemicals in bread.

 

The move comes after the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) recommended a ban on use of potassium bromate in the bread industry after Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) released a report on Monday.    

 

“Potassium bromate is one of 11,000 food additives that are allowed in food business. After careful consideration, the FSSAI has decided to remove potassium bromate from the list of permissible additives,” FSSAI CEO Pawan Kumar Agarwal said.

 

The regulator has also decided to examine the use of potassium iodate in making bread.

 

Welcoming FSSAI’s move, the CSE said that nearly 84% of 38 commonly available brands of pre-packaged bread, including pav and buns, tested positive for potassium bromate and potassium iodate, banned in many countries as they are listed as “hazardous” for public health.

 

“We welcome the steps initiated by FSSAI. We hope a ban on potassium iodate will follow. The authority’s quick response to what we found in our study reestablishes our stand that public health must remain a priority,” said Chandra Bhushan, deputy director general, CSE.

 

Meanwhile, Health Minister J P Nadda told reporters here that his ministry had asked FSSAI to take the matter seriously and submit a report. “They are coming out with a report. The Ministry will take appropriate action accordingly. We will take action as soon as the report comes,” he said.

 

On the notification, Agarwal said, “As far as issue of notification is concerned the FSSAI has already sent the recommendation to Ministry of Health and it would be issued by the Ministry and there it may take a week or two.”

 

After the removal of potassium bromate from the list its use as food additive would be banned, he said.