Ban potassium bromate, FSSAI to govt

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 24

A day after the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) claimed 84 per cent of the 38 popular brands of breads contained cancer-causing chemicals, the country’s apex food regulator today recommended banning potassium bromate as a food additive.

Edit: Our daily bread

At present, the Food Safety and Standards Association of India (FSSAI) allows the use of 11,000 additives to improve the taste and flavor of foods. As per the FSSAI’s list of food additives, potassium bromate is allowed as an additive within the permissible limit of 50 parts per million in the bread category. 

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The FSSAI, after the CSE’s report, today wrote to the Health Ministry for banning potassium bromate. The Ministry is contemplating accepting FSSAI’s recommendation. “We have told the FSSAI to take this matter very seriously. We are expecting a report from them soon following which we will take action,” Health Minister JP Nadda said.