Is Potassium Bromate in Bread Safe?

The Short Answer

No, potassium bromate is not safe.

Most of the world agrees on this. It is a Category 2B carcinogen that has been banned in the European Union, United Kingdom, Canada, Brazil, and China. In the United States, it remains legal primarily due to a regulatory technicality: it was approved before the 1958 Delaney Clause (which bans cancer-causing additives) was enacted.

While the baking industry claims it "disappears" during baking, testing shows that residues frequently remain in the final product. California has already passed legislation (AB 418) to ban it starting in 2027, joining the list of governments that deem it too dangerous for human consumption.

Why This Matters

Potassium bromate is an "oxidizing agent." Commercial bakeries love it because it strengthens dough and makes it rise unnaturally high and fast. It essentially bleaches and artificially ages flour in minutes rather than weeks.

The cost of this convenience is your health. Studies have consistently linked potassium bromate to kidney and thyroid cancers in animals. It is also genotoxic, meaning it can damage DNA. Because of these risks, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies it as "possibly carcinogenic to humans."

The "safety" argument relies on the idea that the heat of the oven converts all the bromate (cancer-causing) into bromide (mostly harmless salt). This is a gamble. If the bread isn't baked long enough, or if the bakery adds slightly too much, the carcinogen remains in your sandwich.

What's Actually In It

Potassium bromate is a single synthetic chemical, but it's often found alongside other heavy-processing agents.

• Potassium Bromate — The carcinogen in question. Used to increase volume and create a fine crumb structure.
• Azodicarbonamide In Bread (ADA) — The "yoga mat chemical." Often used as a substitute or partner to bromate.
• DATEM — A synthetic emulsifier used to give processed bread that squishy texture. Is Datem Safe

What to Look For

Green Flags:

• "Unbromated" — Many high-quality flours (like King Arthur) explicitly state this on the front label.
• "Organic" — USDA Organic certification legally prohibits the use of potassium bromate.
• "Ascorbic Acid" — This is just Vitamin C. It's a safe, natural alternative used by cleaner brands to strengthen dough.

Red Flags:

• "Potassium Bromate" — Usually listed near the end of the ingredients list.
• "Bromated Flour" — Often found in the sub-ingredients of the "Enriched Flour" parenthesis.
• New York Style Pizza — Many "authentic" NY pizza places specifically import bromated high-gluten flour because it creates that specific crust texture. Ask before you eat.

The Best Options

You don't have to give up bread to avoid bromate. Most national "health" brands and even many store brands have removed it.

The Bottom Line

1. Read the fine print. Look specifically for "potassium bromate" or "bromated flour" in the ingredients.

2. Buy Organic. It is the easiest shortcut. If it's organic, it cannot contain bromate.

3. Check your pizza. Local pizzerias and bagel shops are the most common remaining users of bromated flour in the US.

FAQ

Does potassium bromate disappear when baked?

Not always. In theory, it converts to harmless bromide. In reality, tests by the FDA and UK agencies have found detectable levels of the carcinogen in finished baked goods. If the oven wasn't hot enough or the bake time was too short, you are eating the chemical.

Why is it legal in the US?

It falls under a "prior sanction" loophole. Because the FDA approved it before the 1958 law that bans carcinogens (the Delaney Clause) was passed, it was "grandfathered" in. California recently passed a state-level ban that takes effect in 2027.

Is potassium bromate in sourdough?

Real sourdough? No. Traditional sourdough relies on long fermentation for structure. However, "fake" supermarket sourdough often uses commercial yeast and dough conditioners like potassium bromate to mimic the texture without the time investment. Is Store Sourdough Real

---

References (15)

1. 1. livescience.com
2. 2. stoneycreekfarmtennessee.com
3. 3. vegoutmag.com
4. 4. ourmidland.com
5. 5. wikipedia.org
6. 6. usrtk.org
7. 7. afslaw.com
8. 8. anti-a.org
9. 9. ewg.org
10. 10. nj.gov
11. 11. cspi.org
12. 12. nih.gov
13. 13. kingarthurbaking.com
14. 14. msu.edu
15. 15. honestweight.coop