NT NETWORK
PANAJI
Food and Drug Administration director Salim Veljee on Thursday disclosed that none of the remaining seven bread samples has been found having presence of potassium bromate, a cancer causing chemical.
Twenty-nine samples of various flour products had been collected by the FDA to check the presence of potassium bromate, out of which four bread samples had tested positive to the chemical, Veljee said.
The department still has to analyse four samples, but they are of cake, and their report is expected in a day or two, he added.
Last week, a report of the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment said the use of potassium bromate as an additive in food products may lead to cancer. As a result, food safety officers in Bambolim had taken samples of 29 breads. It included local pao, sliced bread (brown and white), pizza bread, certain cakes and other bread variations like hotdog bread, buns etc.
While the laboratory report of 18 samples came in on May 31 the report of the remaining seven bread samples was made public on Thursday.
The four bread samples that tested positive for potassium bromate included three sliced breads and one pizza bread.
Veljee said that bread samples investigated for potassium bromate included breads made by local as well as outside bakeries.
It must be noted here that Goan pao got a clear report from the FDA laboratory as none of the samples collected had traces of potassium bromate.
A study by the CSE discovered the presence of potassium bromate in 38 samples of popular bread brands in the national capital city.
The CSE also found the presence of potassium iodate, a thyroid inducer.
The permissible limit for potassium bromate is 50 parts per million as stipulated under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and the Rules/Regulation. At present, there is no ban or prohibition on addition of potassium bromate in bread if it is within the permissible limit.
Veljee said that bread in Goa that had the presence of potassium bromate contained 25 parts per million and the manufacturers had indicated or disclosed in the list of ingredients on the label that potassium bromate was added.
Bread manufacturing in Goa is by local poders, small bakeries, pastry shops, patisserie chains and also commercial sliced bread manufacturers.
Potassium bromate is used as a flour treatment agent to give a blooming effect, according to the FDA. It is primarily used by the commercial bread manufacturers.