SHILLONG, June 10 - Meghalaya Government today ordered that test be conducted on locally marketed breads and find out if these contain Potassium Bromate, a carcinogenic substance.
Health Minister AL Hek told The Assam Tribune that he has asked the Commissioner Food Safety, Y Tsering to depute personnel and conduct the test immediately.
�I have told the Commissioner Food Safety verbally today and an official letter would be sent to find out if breads here contain Potassium Bromate,� Hek said.
The decision was taken after the Union Government has ordered a probe on breads, after a private laboratory confirmed presence of dangerous cancer-causing chemicals in bread samples tested in New Delhi.
According to the report, breads from several top brands contained Potassium Bromate � a potential Cancer-causing chemical. It also contained Potassium Iodate.
Potassium Bromate is added to the flour as an oxidation agent to age the dough faster. It strengthens the dough while maintaining its elasticity and also makes the bread whiter.
Potassium Bromate is banned as a food additive in several parts of the world, including Europe, China and Japan. In India, after the report surfaced the Centre has decided to strike off Potassium Bromate from the list of food additives.
