Learn → Glossary → bleaching agent

Potassium Bromate(E924)

Level 5 — High concernIn Winter's Dictionary2 sources

Potassium Bromate is a bleaching agent — Dough conditioner and bleaching agent used widely in commercial bread baking

What it does

Dough conditioner and bleaching agent used widely in commercial bread baking

Where you'll see it

commercial breads in US, Japan; Burger King/Arby's/Wendy's buns (per CSPI)

What the research says

IARC Group 2B possible human carcinogen. AMES test (1980) found mutagenic. JECFA 1993 noted long-term toxicity: kidney tumors, stomach lining tumors, thyroid tumors in rats; significantly increased kidney tumors in hamsters. JECFA concluded use in bread-making not appropriate. Very toxic when taken internally — reported inflammation and bleeding of gums. [metabolical] Used to strengthen bread dough; converts mostly but not completely to benign potassium bromide during baking. Residual bromate is a California Prop 65 known carcinogen and IARC possible carcinogen.

Regulatory status

  • US FDA: ASP
  • EU: banned
  • Notes: IARC Group 2B (possibly carcinogenic). Banned in many countries; still permitted in US and Japan. Used in Burger King, Arby's, Wendy's buns per CSPI

Sources

  • Metabolical (Lustig) — Chapter 20: potassium bromate is used to strengthen bread and cracker dough… It's listed as a known carcinogen by the state of California, and a possible carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer
  • A Consumer's Dictionary of Food Additives (Winter): Considered a category 2B (possibly carcinogenic to humans) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. In 1995, the European Union banned its use in food. Potassium bromate has been banned in many countries