The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned against usage of the potassium bromate to bake bread.
Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye of NAFDAC sounded the warning in Agulu, Anambra State, during a sensitisation programme.
According to her, potassium bromate may lead to kidney, thyroid, and gastrointestinal cancers.
The NAFDAC boss, who was represented at the programme by the Director of Chemical Evaluation and Research, Pharmacist (Mrs) Ngozi Onuorah, said potassium bromate is a silent killer which should not be consumed.
“The use of Potassium bromate is a recurring decimal and we have renewed our earlier warning that bakers of bread who are trying to cut corners by using it to enhance the size of their bread to desist from the practice,” she said
She added, “It has come to the knowledge of NAFDAC that some bakers are clandestinely still using potassium bromate, especially at the grassroots level where they think they are not within the precinct or the full glare of the NAFDAC regulatory officers.
“We are also asking the law enforcement agencies to also join the crusade so that we can rid the country of such people.”
She also expressed the commission’s interest in bread baking saying, “We are laying emphasis on the issue of bread because it is a major staple food for most Nigerians. Almost every family in the country eats bread on a daily basis either for breakfast or other meals.
“We are also appealing to the Nigerian Master Bakers Association to renew their efforts and drive in self-regulating. This is because we have been working closely with the union in ridding the bad elements among them in the past.
“We are again appealing to them to report to the nearest NAFDAC office anybody that is apprehended for using potassium bromate to enhance bread.”