With
the news of claiming potassium bromate and potassium iodate as cancerous
additives after a case study smacked by CSE, Indian government has banned bread
in India. A case study by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) upon 38
bread brands (Harvest Gold, Britannia, KFC,
Pizza Hut, Domino’s, McDonald’s) with their buns and pavs, available in markets spotted out that most of
them contains the two “dodgy chemicals” which are perilous for the health of
people.
Going
forward, about “potassium bromate” it upshots in: strengthening the dough, fluffy,
spongy, whitish colour and uniformly shaped breads. Years back, many western
countries banned it from using. But India in its zone kept continuing the
procedure at some acceptable limits. While concerning “potassium iodate”, this
has popped up to be carcinogenic which retorts as flour treating agent.
With
suggestions from FSSI (Food safety and Standards
Authority of India), it is margined as “50ppm for bread” and “20ppm for
flour”. But for other bakery filtrates, we are still unaware about their
limitations. Bakery makers whereas has said that in presence of the chemicals,
the items should be baked at a high temperature and for quite a long time to
negate its effects. They have also confirmed to not use such chemicals further
in the preparations of bakery items.
But
the point fussily shrouds us that, is there any need to stretch grumpy news
about the hazardous chemicals on one side and on the other side, suggesting the
usage of chemicals within a permitted dosage. With the dark secrets of the
growing world of fast foods and pre-packaged foods getting uncovered, it’s time
to remind consumers who hardly gives attention to the chemicals and its harmful
brunt. We should now vastly concentrate on our health, stay fit, eat fresh
things and utmost important is to have knowledge of what we are eating
now.