10/20/2026
This is why it’s important to buy local, or learn to make your own bread!
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“A bread ingredient linked to cancer in laboratory animals has been banned or restricted in several countries. Yet in much of the United States, it can still legally be used in flour, bread, tortillas, and other baked goods.
And you might never have noticed its name on an ingredient label.
It's called potassium bromate, a chemical added to certain flours to strengthen dough, improve texture, and help bread rise higher during baking.
For decades, bakeries have used it to produce the soft, fluffy texture consumers often associate with commercially baked bread.
But the ingredient has a controversial scientific history.
In 1999, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the World Health Organization, classified potassium bromate as a possible human carcinogen.
The classification followed studies showing that the chemical could cause tumors in laboratory animals, particularly affecting the kidneys and thyroid.
Researchers also found evidence that potassium bromate can damage DNA through oxidative stress, raising additional concerns about its potential health effects.
These findings prompted many governments to restrict or prohibit its use in food.
The United Kingdom, Canada, and European Union countries no longer permit potassium bromate as a flour treatment.
The United States, however, has taken a different regulatory approach.
The Food and Drug Administration still allows potassium bromate in certain flour and bakery applications under specified limits, arguing that proper baking practices can convert the chemical into potassium bromide and minimize potentially harmful residues.
But critics question whether its continued use is necessary when alternative dough conditioners are available.
And the ingredient hasn't disappeared from American grocery shelves.
In July 2026, the Environmental Working Group reported identifying more than 200 products containing potassium bromate in its food database.
The products included flour tortillas, soft pretzels, and other packaged baked goods.
Meanwhile, California has already passed legislation prohibiting foods containing potassium bromate, with the ban scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027.
The law reflects growing concern about chemicals that remain permitted in some countries despite restrictions elsewhere.
However, there is an important scientific distinction.
Being classified as a possible carcinogen does not mean eating bread containing potassium bromate has been proven to cause cancer in humans.
The classification identifies a potential hazard, while the actual risk depends on exposure, including whether any bromate remains in the finished baked product.
Still, for consumers who prefer to avoid the additive, there is a simple precaution.
Check the ingredient list on packaged bread, rolls, pizza dough, tortillas, and other baked goods.
Look for the words “potassium bromate” or “bromated flour.”
Choosing products labeled unbromated is another practical option.
Bread has been a staple of human diets for thousands of years. Knowing exactly what goes into it should never be complicated.
Sometimes making an informed food choice starts with reading just two words on the package.”
CREDIT: Almost There
