CSE urges ban on use of potassium iodate in bread

HIGHLIGHTS

• Govt yesterday banned use of potassium bromate in bread, other food.
• 84% of 38 brands of breads, tested positive for potassium bromate and potassium iodate, banned in many countries.

NEW DELHI: Welcoming the country's central food safety authority's ban on possible cancer causing chemical potassium bromate, the Delhi-based think-tank - the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) - on Tuesday urged the authority to also ban use of potassium iodate in bread-making at the earliest.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Monday, through a notification, removed potassium bromate from the list of approved additives and banned its use across the country.

Potassium bromate is a known possible cancer-causing chemical.

The CSE had in May highlighted the use and presence of residues of potassium bromate and/or potassium iodate in bread-making in India and demanded immediate ban on these chemicals in bread-making.

"We are happy to know that the FSSAI has banned the use of potassium bromate. Our study on bread last month raised this issue and FSSAI had announced to ban it soon. We welcome the prompt action. The chemical was banned in most parts of the world but allowed in India until now. The new law will reduce public health risk from a possible cancer-causing chemical," said Chandra Bhushan, deputy director general of the CSE.

Reacting on the ban, Bhushan on Tuesday said, "We had also recommended a ban on the use of potassium iodate as a flour treatment agent in bread-making. The industry has already declared not to use both these chemicals in public interest. We hope that the FSSAI soon prohibits use of potassium iodate as well".

Both Potassium Bromate and Potassium Iodate have been banned in several countries worldwide due to their possible adverse health effects.

The CSE had last month flagged that the use of Potassium iodate in bread can lead to excess iodine intake which could be linked to certain thyroid-related diseases.

"Subsequently, the All India Bread Manufacturer's Association, representing the organised industry, had declared to withdraw the use of potassium bromate and potassium iodate", said the CSE in a statement.

Food companies in soup over false advertisement claims

The apex food regulator took action after receiving complaints from the GAMA web portal, launched by the department of consumer affairs in 2015.

Authorities have cracked down on food companies that issue advertisements screaming their products are "the best" or "miracle cures" without appropriate disclaimers.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) under the Union health ministry recently issued notices to at least four such firms that finally either had to withdraw their commercials or modify them.

Jivo Wellness Pvt Ltd was pulled up for its canola oil, KC Food Products for its digestive biscuits, Phytotech Extracts Pvt Ltd for its supplement Proteqt that helps manage hangovers and Chemical Resources in Maharashtra for the Furocycst pills meant for ovarian cysts.

FALSE ADVERTISING

Analysts say false advertising is notoriously common in India and easy to get away with. According to reports last month, FSSAI and the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) may soon join forces to clamp down on misleading food and beverage commercials.

"Jivo Wellness Pvt Ltd was advertising that canola can prevent diabetes and heart diseases with a private hospital putting its seal. KC Foods from Jammu and Kashmir was advertising that digestive biscuit is the best in the market due to highest content of whole wheat flour," said Pawan Kumar Agarwal, CEO of FSSAI.

"After the FSSAI took cognisance, the companies had to withdraw these misleading advertisements.

Similarly, Chemical Resources was directed to modify its advertisements for Furocyst as it was making claims that the drug contains USpatented ingredients, has no side-effects and that around 94 per cent of patients reported positive results after usage."

The apex food regulator of the country took action after receiving complaints from the GAMA (Grievances against Misleading Advertisements) web portal, which was launched by the department of consumer affairs last year.

ASCI processes these complaints and moves them to respective authorities if companies fail to comply with its directions. The council announced a WhatsApp connection in March to reach the public. Sources say the consumer contact has nearly doubled since this new medium was opened up to register complaints.

POURING COMPLAINTS

WhatsApp is now contributing to more than 12 per cent of the total advertisements complained against and deliberated upon by the Consumer Complaints Council.

"With increased awareness levels, it has also had an incremental effect on the overall number of complaints received directly by other means such as mobile app and website," said ASCI chairman Benoy Roychowdhury.

The council's WhatsApp number has seen complaints come in against advertisements appearing in a wide range of sectors such as FMCG, healthcare, telecom, ecommerce, travel, durables, automotive, food and beverages and education.

The ASCI code is recognised by the information and broadcasting ministry.

Complaints came in from across India, including areas such as the West Jaintia Hills, Bareilly, Varanasi, Vadodara, Ludhiana and Chennai. Criticisms poured in for advertisements across media, including websites, radio, SMS, emailers, promotional materials, product packaging and hoardings.

The FSSAI recently asked its central licensing authority to send a show-cause notice to yoga guru Ramdev's Patanjali group over complaints about misleading advertisements of mustard oil.

Health Dept challans four bakeries

Chandigarh: As per the order of Director, Health and Family Welfare, Chandigarh Administration, a joint team of Food Safety Officers on Friday raided the areas of Kajhen and Hallo Majra of Chandigarh, where meat shops and bakery units were inspected.

In total, four challans were issued for not possessing valid food licence and op-erating in unhygienic and insanitary conditions. Also, five bakeries which were op-erating in very unhygienic without having a FSSAI food licence were sealed. The ven-dors were also instructed to keep hygiene and quality standards as per Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 in view of coming monsoons.

According to the health department officials, as the rainy season is coming so in the upcoming days the team will be conducting similar inspections around the city to make sure that no meat shopkeepers are involved in illegal slaugh-tering and also for working under unhygienic conditions and selling unhygienic food to the residents. Also, strict action will be taken against the shopkeepers serving adulterated food.

Potassium bromate in food items banned

The study found that 84 per cent of 38 commonly available brands of pre-packaged breads tested positive for potassium bromate

Following requests by the New Delhi-based research and advocacy organisation Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Monday banned use of potassium bromate - a common bread additive. The ban is unlikely to affect the Rs 30,000-crore bread industry as a majority of bakers stopped using the additive last month after a CSE report.

FSSAI, the apex food regulator of the country, on Monday came up with a notification saying "use of potassium bromate as an additive in any food is not allowed".

Ramesh Mago, president of All India Bread Manufacturers' Association, which represents country's top brands including Britannia, Harvest Gold and Modern, told Business Standard that following the allegations, manufacturers have stopped using potassium bromate since 27 May.

While lower cost of potassium bromate was a major reason behind its abundant use, production costs are unlikely to go up thanks to alternatives like ascorbic acid.

"FSSAI has banned potassium bromate. A notification has been issued in this regard. As far as potassium iodate is concerned, it has been referred to a scientific panel," FSSAI CEO Pawan Kumar Agarwal told PTI. Last month, the regulator had recommended the Health Ministry to remove potassium bromate from the list of permissible food additives after a study by the CSE.

The CSE came up with a study reporting presence of high levels of cancer-causing additives in white bread, bun and pizza bread, among others. The study had found that 84 per cent of 38 commonly available brands of pre-packaged breads, including pav and buns, tested positive for potassium bromate and potassium iodate.

According to CSE, potassium bromate typically increases dough strength, leading to higher rising and uniform finishing of baked products while potassium iodate is a flour treatment agent. The food additives are banned in many countries and are considered unfit for human consumption.

Centre bans carcinogenic bread conditioner

NEW DELHI: Potassium bromate, the food additive used in bread, which was found to cause cancer by a study by the Centre for Science and Environment, was on Monday banned by the Health Ministry.

While potassium bromate was banned, the Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), has referred another additive, potassium iodate, to its scientific panel for further testing.

FSSAI CEO Pawan Agrawal said, “FSSAI has banned potassium bromate. A notification has been issued in this regard. As far as Potassium Iodate is concerned, it has been referred to a scientific panel”.

Last month, the regulator had recommended the removal of potassium bromate from the list of permissible food additives after a study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) found that 84 per cent of 38 commonly available brands of pre-packaged bread tested positive for potassium bromate and potassium iodate banned in many countries and listed as hazardous for public health.Potassium bromate typically increases dough strength, leads to higher rising and uniform finish to baked products while Potassium Iodate is a flour treatment agent. The CSE had also urged FSSAI to ban the use of potassium bromate and potassium iodate and prevent their routine exposure to Indian population. After the CSE study, a bread manufacturers’ body said they would stop using the controversial potassium bromate and potassium iodate as additives.

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