Use of potassium bromate as food additive banned
The government has banned the use of potassium bromate
as a food additive following a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) study
that found its presence in bread caused cancer.
Background:
·
Potassium iodate is also used as a food additive and
it too is said to be carcinogenic.
·
A CSE study had found that 84 per cent of 38 commonly
available brands of pre-packaged breads, including pav and buns, tested
positive for potassium bromate and potassium iodate. The two food additives are
banned in many countries and are listed as “hazardous” to public health.
·
According to the CSE, potassium bromate typically
increases dough strength, leads to higher rising and gives uniform finish to
baked products.
·
Potassium iodate is a flour treatment agent.
What is Potassium Bromate and how it works?
·
It is added to wheat flour to strengthen the dough and
to allow it to rise higher. It bleaches the dough and increases its elasticity
by making tiny bubbles that help the bread rise.
·
However, the real problem arises when bromate flour
isn’t baked for long enough or at a high enough temperature, or if too much
potassium bromate is added in the first place.
Health impacts:
·
The chemical is said to cause renal tubular tumours
(adenomas and carcinomas) thyroid follicular tumours peritoneal mesotheliomas
in laboratory animals.
·
Also, long-term carcinogenicity studies and in vivo
and in vitro mutagenicity studies showed that potassium bromate was a
“genotoxic carcinogen” or a chemical agent that damaged genetic information,
causing mutations.
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