Until it banned in U.K. in 1989, and its use heavily criticized in the USA in 1991, Potassium Bromate was an important flour improver, which has been widely used in the baking industry for 80 years. In layman’s terms, Potassium Bromate is a maturing agent, which prevents dough from falling, while yielding higher volumes (loaves are bigger) Bromated bread also tends to crumble less easily – that is it tends to be more compact.

There has been a raging controversy over the use of Bromate, from as early as 1998. Many scientists claimed in the early 90s that Potassium Bromate was likely to be harmless as bread additives, as the substance is broken to insignificant levels during baking.

However, between 1992 and 1993, the Food and Drug Administration FDA in America tested several loaves of bread in circulation, and made a surprising discovery. Contrary to previous claims, many of the loaves had detectable levels of Bromate.

In the UK, 28 bands of Bromated bread were tested for Bromate by the Food Science Laboratory in 1989. Three quarters of the loaves also had significant of residual Bromate. This was followed by a ban in the use of Potassium Bromate in Britain. In 1993, the join FAO/WHO Expert Committee on food additives recommended that Potassium Bromate be removed from the list of approved flour treatment agents. Many other countries including Canada, Greece and Japan to name a few have banned the use of K Bromate.

Ten years later, we are still finding Potassium Bromate in baked bread in Nigeria.

Why is this so?

Obviously our message is not entirely clear yet. So what then is the real danger of Potassium Bromate in baked bread?

Experimental findings

When it comes to adverse effects of chemicals, scientists have found it extremely appropriate to assume some danger to human beings whenever a substance causes disability, cancer or death in laboratory animals. Biologically, animal tissues are just as sensitive as human tissues to poisons and contaminates in both food and drink. In the 1900s, laboratory animals, such as rats, were exposed to Potassium Bromate through drinking waters, and bread for a period of time ranging from 3-4 months.

Some skeptics claimed that the exposure of the rats was not relevant to human beings, as Bromate is not usually consumed by humans in similar quantities. This they said, forgetting that for most people, especially children, bread is a staple food. I know some people, especially children, eat bread religiously – TDS that is, three times a day! Just like a drug prescription.

After the exposure, cancers were found in the kidneys, livers and thyroid of the exposed rats. More importantly, thyroid cancers were found mostly in female rats, the exact pattern also found in humans where by women are the ones who generally have this particular type of thyroid cancer known as Follicular Carcinoma.

Lets now look at Potassium Bromate as deadly cancer inducing agent.

Genetic mutations

The type of damage Bromate inflicts on the body is concentrated in the genetic system of the cell, in other words, in the cell’s genetic programming machinery. Normal cells are specially programmed to grow through DNA or De-oxy Nucleic Acid, which occurs naturally in chains. Four proteins form DNA chains in humans. They are Adenine, Guanine, Cytosine and Thymidine. The sequence of these proteins in each cell depends on what the cell does in the body, i.e. in which organ it functions. Potassium Bromate only needs to alter the normal sequence of a single cell and the cell begins to grow abnormally. The result is cancer.

Pathology of cancers.

Renal cell carcinoma is the type of cancer induced by Potassium Bromate previously called hypernephroma; it arises from the kidney tubules.

They are the commonest kidney tumors in adults. They may appear as singles or multiple tumors. No matter how they present, Renal Cell Carcinomas are deadly cancers. The 5-year survival rate is only 60%.

That means that only 60% of the people who develop the cancer will live for 5 years after diagnosis. 40% will not survive 5 years. The main reason being the rapid spread of the cancer into the liver, bone and lungs as early as the first time the victim visits the hospital.

Signs of Renal Cell Carcinoma

Passing blood in urine may be the first sign.

Swelling of the abdomen and pain on the affected side. It may affect both kidneys. Patients may also have feelings in 20% of cases.

Weight loss is inevitable.

Surgical removal is possible if the cancer has not spread to other organs. Even after surgery, patients will require cancer drugs and radiotherapy.

Mesotheliomas of the abdomen

This type of cancer is one of the worst cancers anyone can have. It responds very poorly to cancer drugs and cancer treatment generally. It also grows rapidly and very few survive two years after being diagnosed. Signs may include swelling of the abdomen and constant pain. Weight loss and loss of appetite.

Thyroid cancer – follicular carcinoma

More common in women

Very deadly too as it tends to spread to lungs and bond.

Signs include swelling of the neck. Sometimes removal may make a cure possible but the problem is the location, which is very vascular and close to other main organs such as the voice box, windpipe, and the major arteries of the neck.

What more can we say concerning Potassium Bromate?

The evidence is clear, prevention is certainly better that cure as the adage says.

Let us endeavor to protect innocent lives, the lives of our children, mothers, wives and husbands.

Thank you and God bless.o