Chemical additive Potassium bromate is carcinogenic: CSE Study

As per recent study conducted by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), chemical additive Potassium bromate (KbrO3) widely prevalent in bread and refined flour is carcinogenic.
The test was conducted by CSE’s Pollution Monitoring Laboratory. It has found that 84% of the samples were found to be laced with carcinogenic and thyroid triggering chemicals, such as Potassium Bromate and Potassium Iodate.
These chemicals content were found to be on the higher then permissible limit in the sandwich breads followed by white bread, pavs, pizza bread and burger buns.
Following this, national food regulator FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) has decided to remove potassium bromate from the list of permitted additives.
How and Why Potassium bromate is used?

• Potassium bromate used as chemical additive in food items in the form of white crystals or powder. It is added to aid baking process as it strengthens the bread dough in order to raise it higher.
• The KbrO3 powder bleaches the bread dough and increases its elasticity by making tiny bubbles that help the bread rise.
• In India, the legal permissible limit to add Potassium bromate as chemical additive in food is 50 parts per million (ppm). Its High dosages are harmful.

Evidence of Toxicity: A study conducted in Japan in 1982 has found that potassium bromate causes cancer. Following this, many countries including Japan, Australia, China and UK have banned it. Some studies also have showed that potassium bromate is a “genotoxic carcinogen” i.e. a chemical agent that can damage genetic information, causing mutations.

Month: Current Affairs - May, 2016