Food additive Potassium Bromate to be banned
Q. Which food additive is set to be banned by health ministry?- Published on 25 May 16a. Potassium cromate
b. Potassium iodate
c. Both of the above
d. Neither of the above
ANSWER: Neither of the above
The government is set to ban potassium bromate as food additive with health minister J P Nadda asserting that it will take appropriate action following a report which claimed presence of cancer-causing chemicals in bread samples of virtually all top brands.
- A Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) study had found nearly 84 per cent of 38 commonly available brands of pre-packaged breads including pav and buns, testing positive for potassium bromate and potassium iodate, banned in many countries as they are listed as "hazardous" for public health.
- It claimed that while one of the chemicals is a category 2B carcinogen (possibly carcinogenic to humans), the other could trigger thyroid disorders but India has not banned their use.
