Potassium bromate used in breads including pav and buns may soon be banned with the Health Ministry waking up to study the recommendations of the country’s food regulator for removal of the toxic chemical from the list of permissible food additives.
The move comes a day after a report by CSE claimed the presence of the cancer-causing chemicals in bread samples of virtually all top brands.
Union Health Minister JP Nadda said he has directed the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to take the matter seriously and submit a report at the earliest, the regulator long back had submitted a report in this regard to the Ministry.
“I have told FSSAI to take the matter seriously and submit the 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,” Nadda told reporters.
However, indicating that it had already submitted the report seeking ban on the chemical, FSSAI CEO Pawan Kumar Agarwal said, “Potassium bromate is one of 11,000 food additives that are allowed in food business. After careful consideration, the FSSAI has recommended potassium bromate from the list of permissible additives.”
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 adding that on use of potassium iodate, FSSAI is examining the evidence and soon a decision will be taken over the same.