CSE welcomes FSSAI decision to ban ‘cancerous’ food additive

New Delhi, May 24:  The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) on Tuesday welcomed the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s (FSSAI) decision to disallow the use of potassium bromate as an additive in food products. CSE had on Monday released a report which said that Indian bread manufacturers use potassium bromate and potassium iodate for treating flour while making bread. Potassium bromate is known to be a category 2B carcinogen and is already banned in Britain, the European Union, Australia, Cada and Sri Lanka, among others. The CSE also welcomed the food safety authority’s decision to evaluate use of potassium iodate — which may trigger thyroid disorders — in bread-making. The FSSAI had on Monday said that it was already considering to take potassium bromate off the list of permitted additives as per the recommendation of a scientific panel. The FSSAI said it was also examining the evidence against potassium iodate before taking any decision on disallowing its use. (IANS)