HC rule on banning carcinogenic chemical in bread

The High Court (HC) on Monday issued a rule asking why the use of toxic chemical potassium bromate in bread production should not be banned.

The HC bench comprising Justice Fahmida Quader and Justice Asif Hasan passed the order following a primary hearing on a writ petition filed in public interest.

The rule also asked why it should not be made mandatory to print "potassium bromate free" on bread packets during marketing.

Ten respondents have been asked to reply to the rule within four weeks. They include the Secretary of the Ministry of Food, President of the Auto Biscuits and Bread Manufacturers Association, Director General of BSTI, Director General of the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection, and Managing Directors of Pran Food, Nabisco Biscuit and Bread Factory, Danish Foods, Fresh (Meghna Group of Industries), Akij Food, and Haque Food.

Advocate Sanjoy Mondal, assisted by Advocate Zahid Talukder, argued for the petition in court.

The writ was filed on July 26 by Kabir Alamgir, Chairman of the Movement for Human Rights and Good Governance Foundation (MHRGF).

The petition urged necessary steps to stop using cancer-causing potassium bromate in bread and mandate clear labeling of ingredients on packages.

The petition stated that 4.5 million people in Bangladesh face health risks due to food adulteration. Every year, 1,17,000 people die from cancer in the country, while over 1,67,000 new patients are diagnosed. 

Currently, around 3,46,000 people suffer from cancer, and 16 percent suffer from kidney complications. Unplanned bakeries across the country are producing bread without following regulations, aggravating health hazards.

In 2021, laboratory tests by the Bangladesh Safe Food Authority found excessive potassium bromate in bread samples. Out of 19 bread samples tested in Dhaka, 16 (84 percent) contained excessive potassium bromate ranging from 3.31 ppm to 12.91 ppm.

Following the test results, the Bangladesh Safe Food Authority issued a notification banning the use of potassium bromate and potassium iodate as additives in bread and bakery items.

-SA