Packaged baked goods in the U.S. may pose a cancer risk due to the presence of potassium bromate, an additive linked to cancer, according to a report by the Environmental Working Group (EWG). The chemical is commonly added to flour to enhance dough strength and promote higher rising in baked goods. Despite being banned in various countries due to health concerns, over 130 different products in the U.S., including Best Choice Wheat Sliced Bread and Hy Vee Blueberry Crisp, were identified to contain potassium bromate. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classified potassium bromate as a possible human carcinogen in 1999, and lab tests revealed increased tumor incidences in animals exposed to it. Although the food industry claims that baking converts potassium bromate into a non-carcinogenic form, testing in the U.K. found detectable levels after baking, raising concerns about its safety. California has taken legislative action, passing the Food Safety Act earlier this year to ban the sale and distribution of foods containing potassium bromate in the state, highlighting the need for federal regulatory reform to address potential risks associated with food additives.
Reference: Iris Myers (EWG). (2022, May 2). Cancer-Causing Chemical May Be Lurking in Your Bread. Environmental Working Group (EWG). https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news/2022/05/cancer-causing-chemical-may-be-lurking-your-bread?utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=202205Welc&utm_medium=email&utm_content=default&emci=e91059a8-d8d2-ec11-b656-281878b8c32f&emdi=ea000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&ceid=4513152