Potassium Bromate: A Flour Additive Banned in Most of the World
Potassium bromate is a chemical compound used as a flour improver in bread baking. It strengthens dough, improves rise, and produces a fine crumb texture. It has been banned in the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada, Brazil, China, and many other countries due to its classification as a possible human carcinogen. In the United States, the FDA has not banned it federally, though California requires a cancer warning label on products containing it.
Ingredients change. Always check the actual product label before purchasing. Information on this page is for educational purposes only.
What Is Potassium Bromate?
Potassium bromate (KBrO₃) is an oxidizing agent added to flour to strengthen gluten structure, improve dough elasticity, and produce a higher, more uniform loaf. When bread is baked properly at high temperatures, most of the potassium bromate is converted to potassium bromide, which is considered harmless. However, if bread is underbaked or if too much is used, residual potassium bromate can remain in the finished product.
Cancer Classification and Regulatory Bans
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies potassium bromate as a Group 2B possible human carcinogen, based on animal studies showing it causes kidney tumors, thyroid tumors, and mesotheliomas in rats. The EU banned it as a food additive. The UK, Canada, Brazil, China, India, and many other countries followed. In the US, the FDA has not issued a federal ban, but California's Proposition 65 requires a cancer warning label on products containing it. The FDA has encouraged bakers to voluntarily stop using it.
EU Status
Potassium bromate is not permitted as a food additive in the European Union. It is not listed in the EU's approved food additives regulation (EC) No 1333/2008. EFSA has not issued a recent re-evaluation because it is simply not an approved additive in the EU.
Where Is Potassium Bromate Found?
Potassium bromate is used primarily in commercial bread baking, rolls, and some flour products. It may appear on labels as 'potassium bromate' or 'bromated flour'. Many large US bakeries have voluntarily stopped using it. Artisan and specialty bakers generally do not use it. If you want to avoid it, look for 'unbromated flour' on the label or choose products that list only flour without the bromated designation.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is potassium bromate banned in the EU?
- Yes. Potassium bromate is not permitted as a food additive in the EU. It is not listed in the EU's approved additives regulation.
- Is potassium bromate still used in US bread?
- It remains legal at the federal level in the US, though California requires a cancer warning label. Many large bakeries have voluntarily stopped using it. Check the ingredients list for 'potassium bromate' or 'bromated flour'.
- How dangerous is potassium bromate?
- IARC classifies it as a possible human carcinogen (Group 2B) based on animal studies. When bread is properly baked, most of it converts to harmless potassium bromide. The risk from residual amounts in properly baked bread is considered low, but the precautionary approach is to avoid it.