The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has warned bakers in the country to desist from using potassium bromate to enhance bread.
Speaking at a sensitization campaign in Agulu, Anambra state, Adeyeye warned that Potassium bromate has grave health consequences to humans as it can cause kidney, thyroid, and gastrointestinal cancers.
The NAFDAC boss, represented by the Director of Chemical Evaluation and Research, Pharmacist (Mrs) Ngozi Onuorah, 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 should desist from the practice,” she stressed.
Prof. Adeyeye noted that other healthy alternatives have been introduced to the bakers which are not injurious to public health.
She, however, regretted saying, “But it has come to the knowledge of NAFDAC that some bakers are clandestinely still using potassium bromate, especially at the grass-root 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 practice.”
On why NAFDAC is paying special attention to bread, the Director-General said: “We are laying emphasis on the issue of bread because it is a major staple 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.”
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