By Zayamu Hassan
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has, again warned bakers in the country to desist from using potassium bromate to enhance bread.
The Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyehe, who made the appeal at a sensitization campaign in Agulu, Anambra state, said that Potassium bromate has grave health consequences to humans as it causes kidney, thyroid, and gastrointestinal cancers.
Represented by the Director of Chemical Evaluation and Research, Pharmacist (Mrs) Ngozi Onuorah, the Director General stressed that potassium bromate is a silent killer, hence, should not be used for human consumption.
“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 stressed.
While saying that there are healthy alternatives that have been introduced to the bakers which are not injurious to public health, Prof. Adeyeye, however, regretted that: “But it has come to the knowledge of NAFDAC that some bakers are clandestinely still using potassium bromate, especially at the grassroot 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.”
On why NAFDAC is paying special attention on bread, the Director General said: “We are laying emphasise on the issue of bread because it is a major stable food on the table of 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.”
