Potassium Bromate (E924) in Indian Bread: Banned Since 2016 — Is It Still There?

Potassium Bromate (E924) is a flour improver that was once widely used in Indian bread and bakery products to strengthen dough and give a softer, whiter loaf. It's important to be accurate about its current legal status: FSSAI banned Potassium Bromate in India in 2016, following a landmark investigation by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) that found it in 84% of 38 commercial bread brands tested, at concentrations ranging from 1.15 to 22.54 parts per million — including major brands and fast-food chains. This is a genuine India food-safety success story worth knowing precisely, not a case of an ongoing legal loophole.

Potassium Bromate is classified by IARC as a Group 2B "possible human carcinogen," based on sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in animal studies, though human epidemiological evidence remains limited. It is also banned in the EU, Canada, and China — India's 2016 ban brought it in line with those markets. CSE's original investigation cited IARC's 1999 classification and WHO/FAO Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) and Codex Alimentarius standards as the basis for recommending the ban that FSSAI subsequently enacted.

Here's a genuinely useful, honest gap: CSE's 2016 study remains the definitive, most-cited data source on this topic across virtually all coverage — but it is now nearly a decade old, and no comparably rigorous follow-up testing appears to have been published checking whether potassium bromate has actually disappeared from Indian bread since the ban took effect. A ban on paper doesn't guarantee zero residual use, particularly among smaller or unbranded bakeries that may not be regularly inspected. Until updated testing data is available, the most honest answer to "is potassium bromate still in Indian bread?" is: it's illegal, major brands should be compliant, but independent verification since 2016 is not something we could confirm through current research.

Potassium Bromate can cause damage to the kidneys and thyroid gland, triggering a disease pathway that may lead to cancer in animal models. Long-term accumulation of this chemical in the body can have effects including increased risk of tumors and other health problems, which is the underlying reasoning behind both the IARC classification and the international bans. According to IARC, there is limited evidence in humans for its carcinogenicity, but sufficient evidence in animals — the same evidence-tier pattern seen with several other food additive concerns covered on this site, where animal data drives precautionary regulation ahead of confirmed human epidemiological proof.

Vulnerable groups, such as children, pregnant women, and individuals with pre-existing kidney or thyroid conditions, would be at higher theoretical risk from Potassium Bromate exposure if it were present. In India, where millions of people consume bread daily, ensuring the 2016 ban is actually being enforced at the retail level — not just on paper — matters most for these groups specifically.

Since potassium bromate is banned, it should not appear on any legally compliant Indian bread label — its presence on an ingredient list would itself be a regulatory violation worth reporting to FSSAI. For unbranded or loose bakery bread where labelling may be inconsistent, buying from established, branded sources with visible ingredient declarations remains the more reliable option until independent post-ban testing data becomes available.

AaharIQ, India's leading AI-powered food scanner app, can help you detect Potassium Bromate on any bread or bakery product label, flagging it immediately as a banned substance if present. Simply scan the label, and our AI-powered algorithm will check it against FSSAI's current permitted and banned substances list. Download AaharIQ today at aahariq.com and take the first step towards protecting yourself and your loved ones.