India orders probe into "cancer-causing bread"

India's health ministry has ordered a probe into the claims made by a research and advocacy group that bread and other bakery products sold in India are laced with carcinogenic (cancer-causing) chemicals.

A study released by New Delhi based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) on Monday said Indian bread manufacturers use potassium bromate and potassium iodate (carcinogens) for treating flour while making bread.

CSE claims that the study, conducted by its pollution monitoring laboratory, found 84 percent samples of bread commonly available in New Delhi positive with potassium bromate and potassium iodate.

The chemicals, banned in many countries, are in use in India.

Indian Health Minister J P Nadda on Tuesday told reporters that he has asked the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to probe the claims made by CSE.

"I have told FSSAI to take the matter seriously and submit the report," Nadda told reporters. "The Ministry will take appropriate action as soon as the report comes out."

FSSAI is a government patronized body responsible for protecting and promoting public health in India through the regulation and supervision of food safety.

The CSE has urged the government to ban the use of these chemicals in bakery products.

Meanwhile, FSSAI is contemplating to ban the use of potassium bromate in making bread in India.

"We welcome the steps initiated by FSSAI to ban potassium bromate and evaluate the use of potassium iodate and hope a ban on potassium iodate will follow," a statement issued by CSE said. "The Authority's quick response to what we found in our study reestablishes our stand that public health must remain a priority." Endit