Bread makers stop using controversial chemicals

Facing allegation about presence of carcinogenic chemcals in their products, a bread manufacturers’ body has stopped using controversial potassium bromate and potasium iodate as additives from last night.
According to a PTI report: The All India Bread Manufacturers Association, which represents over 90 organised bread manufacturers such as Harvest Gold and Britannia, has, however, asked food safety regulator (FSSAI) to verify the findings of the CSE report that claimed most of the breads sold in the National Capital contained cancer-causing chemicals.
“FSSAI has already said that use of potassium bromate as an additive will be stopped and a notification will be issued within 6-7 days. Hence, we have decided to stop using potassium bromate and potassium iodate voluntarily,” President, All India Bread Manufacturers Association, Ramesh Mago was quoted by PTI as saying.
He, however, said proper scientific study must be done on the issue.
“We would go to FSSAI and ask them to verify the claims by CSE,” Mago was further quoted by PTI as saying.
When PTI questioned as how much time the industry would take to implement it, he replied to PTI: “It would come in effect immediately. It would not be used in the fresh production from tonight.”
READ MORE: FSSAI bans use of cancer-causing chemical in bread manufacturing
MD Harvest Gold and member executive council AIBMA MD Adil Hussain was quoted by PTI as saying, “It’s a matter of respecting public opinion. We would use other alternatives such as enzymes and emulsifiers depending on what product we are making.”
He, however, said the said chemical was in the book, which FSSAI publishes in which 11,000 ingredients are allowed to be used for food products.
“It has been there for almost two decades and not a recent occurrence. The industry is very clear that it’s an additive, which is safe and legally allowed by FSSAI in India and FDA in USA and perfectly safe,” Hussain was quoted by PTI as claiming.
Mago said that after CSE study claiming that bread contains cancer-causing chemicals, sales have been affected.
“We have an impact of around 10 per cent on our sales,” he was further quoted by PTI as saying and adding it would return to normal once the controversial substance is not used.