Jane Nafula
23 June 2007
Kampala — THE Ministry of Health has with immediate effect banned the use of potassium bromate in making bread.
Potassium bromate (KBrO3), is an oxidising agent used as a flour improver, to strengthen the dough, allowing higher rising to yield higher volume of bread.
Potassium bromate is in form of white powder and is also used in treating barley in beer making. It is also used to improve the quality of fish-paste products in some countries.
Health Minister, Stephen Mallinga said that it has been proved that potassium bromate is a cancer causing substance (carcinogen) especially of the kidneys and urinary bladder and that the public should stop using it.
"Potassium bromate has been banned in several countries because it is considered to be a cancer causing substance," Dr Mallinga said.
In 1993 the World Health Organisation (WHO) banned potassium bromate after it found out that the flour improver causes cancer.
The ingredient was also banned from use in food products in Europeand the United Kingdom in 1990.
Following the WHO ban that was effected in 1993, other countries like Canada banned the use of potassium bromate (1994) Sri Lanka (2001) China (2005) and Nigeria.
Dr Mallinga said the Codex Alimentarius Commission (a joint Food and Agriculture Organisation and WHO Programme responsible for compiling the standards, codes of practice, guidelines and recommendations has removed potassium bromate from the list of additives permitted for use in the food industry.
He said the Ministry and the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) take the findings very seriously.
Dr Mallinga warned the general public especially in the baking industry to take seriously this public health concern and stop using additives containing potassium bromate.
"The Ministry appeals to all enforcement agencies and Local Authorities to vigorously implement the ban," he said.
Executive Director UNBS Terry Kahuma said the bureau is currently creating awareness among the owners of bakeries on dangers associated with potassium bromate so that it's not used and protect the public from the health hazard.
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