Do
you know the bread you consume can increase the risk of cancer? And no,
this is not restricted to just white bread, but brown, multigrain,
wholewheat and even your pavs, buns and pizza breads.
According to a study
released by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), 84 per cent
of bread and bakery samples collected from across Delhi contain residues
of potassium bromate, potassium iodate or both. While potassium bromate
is said to be a Class 2B carcinogenic, which means it may cause cancer,
potassium iodate can lead to "thyroid disorders, increase the incidence
of autoimmune thyroiditis and increase the risk of thyroid cancer," the
report said.
But
why are these chemicals used in breads? The report says potassium
bromate (KBrO3) helps achieve high rising and a uniform finish, and the
potassium iodate (KIO3) is used by breadmakers as flour treatment
agents. The chemicals were popularly used across the world till the the
late 1980s and early 1990s, when there was a conscious effort to
minimise their use following evidence pointing towards adverse impact on
the health of consumers.
To
find out if potassium bromate and potassium iodate are present in
different types of breads, the Pollution Monitoring Laboratory (PML) at
CSE collected 38 bread and bakery samples from retail shops, bakeries
and fast food outlets in Delhi during May-June 2015. The samples
included popular varieties of white bread, whole wheat/atta bread, brown
bread, multigrain bread, sandwich bread, pav, bun, ready-to-eat burger
bread and ready-to-eat pizza bread. The brands included many well-known
bread brands as well as seven fast food chains, both domestic as well as
international.
The
study found that 84 per cent (32/38) samples were found with potassium
bromate or iodate in the range of 1.15-22.54 parts per million (ppm).
Around 79 per cent (19/24) samples of packaged bread, all samples of
white bread, pav, bun and ready-to-eat pizza bread and 75 per cent (3/4)
samples of ready-to-eat burger bread were positive.
"The
highest level of potassium bromate and/or iodate was found in sandwich
bread. This was followed by pav, bun and white bread. Even the average
level of the residues was high in these product categories," says the
report. The report says most bread brands do not even name the two
chemicals in the list of ingredients.
According to the report,
the use of potassium bromate and/or iodate has been banned in several
countries across the world, including Australia, significant parts of
Europe, Canada and China, among others. The US and India have no such
ban in place, with the former asking bakers to voluntarily avoid using
it.
The
CSE recommends that the The Food Safety and Standards Authority of
India (FSSAI) "should prohibit the use of potassium bromate in making
bread and bakery products with immediate effect. Considering that it can
cause cancer, is banned in most parts of the world, and has healthy
alternatives, there is no reason why this chemical should be allowed,
specifically when residues are found to be present in the end-product."
It suggests a similar ban for the use of potassium iodate as well.
Reacting
to the CSE report, Health Minister JP Nadda said, "We are seized of 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 the (probe)
report."
Food
regulator FSSAI Monday said it has decided to remove potassium bromate
from the list of permitted additives while it is examining
evidence against potassium iodate before restricting its use.
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