New Delhi: The Union health ministry on Monday asked for a detailed report on the findings of Centre for Science and Environment ( CSE ) suggesting presence of potassium bromate , classified as a possible carcinogen by World HealthOrganisation , in most Indian bread and bakery products. The environment and health watchdog also claimed that the products tested by them had potassiumiodate , which can affect thyroid function.
The use of both additives -- used as flour treatement agents -- has been banned by several countries due to their ill-effect on health, CSE pointed out, but India continues to allow them 'under permissible limits'. It has recommended that India too should ban them.
"We tested 38 samples of pre-packaged breads, pav and buns, ready-to-eat burger bread and ready-to-eat pizza from all big companies. Potassium bromate or iodate was found in 84% of them. The results were re-confirmed by further testing carried out by an external third-party laboratory," said Chandra Bhushan, deputy director general of CSE.
Reacting to the CSE report, health minister J P Nadda said the government is looking into the matter. "I have told my officials to report to me on an urgent basis. There is no need to panic. Very soon we will come out with a report," he said.
CSE found that the highest levels of potassium bromate/iodate were present in sandwich bread, followed by pav, bun and white bread. "Products of Perfect Bread, Harvest Gold and Britannia were those with higher levels. No residues were found in all the four tested products of Defence Bakery (whole wheat bread, jumbo slices brown, brown bread, multigrain), one out of four samples of English Oven (Sandwich Bread) and one out of two samples of Nirula's (burger bread of Chatpata Aloo Burger)," CSE stated in its press release.
It added: "Only one brand - Perfect Bread - labels use of potassium bromate. No maker among those tested labels potassium iodate. Only Britannia denied use of potassium bromate or iodate. Products of all five popular multinational fast food outlets selling pizza and burger were found positive with potassium bromate/iodate. These include KFC, Pizza Hut, Domino's, Subway and McDonald's. Except Domino's, others have denied use in a response to CSE. Samples of two other fast food outlets -- Nirula's and Slice of Italy -- also tested positive for potassium bromate/iodate. Slice of Italy denied use of the chemicals to CSE."
In 1999, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified potassium bromate as possibly carcinogenic (cancer causing) to humans. It was found to cause tumors of the kidney and thyroid and cancer of the abdominal lining in laboratory animals.
European Union banned potassium bromate's use in 1990 and so did UK. Subsequently, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, China, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Nigeria, Peru and Colombia have also decided against its use.
"Globally, potassium bromate was allowed to be used on the assumption that the bromate residues would not be present in the end product. This assumption failed across the world. Residues were being detected even after reducing the allowed limits of use and, therefore, countries started banning it. Our study confirms that residues of potassium bromate are present in bread sold in India," said Bhushan.
