CSE welcomes announcement made by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to ban use of potassium bromate in bread
Also welcomes the Authority’s decision to evaluate use of potassium iodate in bread-making; hopes for a quick action to ban this chemical as well
New Delhi, May 24, 2016: Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has welcomed the announcement made by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to ban the use of potassium bromate in making bread in India. CSE has also appreciated the Authority’s proactive move in deciding to examine the use of potassium iodate in bread-making.
Yesterday, CSE had released its new study which had highlighted the widespread use and presence of residues of potassium bromate/iodate in bread sold in Delhi. The study, conducted by CSE’s Pollution Monitoring Laboratory (PML), said Indian bread manufacturers use potassium bromate and potassium iodate for treating flour while making bread.
The use of these chemicals in the bread-making sector has been banned in many countries because they are listed as hazardous for public health: one is a category 2B carcinogen (possibly carcinogenic to humans) and the other could trigger thyroid disorders. India does not ban their use.
Accordingly, CSE had recommended an immediate ban on them in India.
“We welcome the steps initiated by FSSAI to ban potassium bromate and evaluate the use of potassium iodate – 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,” says Chandra Bhushan, deputy director general, CSE.
For a brief summary of the test results, the complete lab report and other related documents, please click here
For questions and interviews etc, contact Souparno Banerjee of the CSE Media Resource Centre, souparno@cseindia.org, 9910864339
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