The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has cautioned bakers who use potassium bromate as improvers, saying it is dangerous to health.
According to it, as part of its efforts to curb the menace of importation, sales and distribution of counterfeit/fake regulated products and ensure that only wholesome, safe, quality and efficacious products are imported, manufactured, distributed, sold and used by the Nigerians, it has stepped up efforts to raid defaulters.
The Acting Director-General of NAFDAC, Dr Monica Eimunjeze, at a media briefing in Lagos on Tuesday explained that potassium bromate is a banned flour improver and a known cancer-causing agent.
According to her, potassium bromate has been found to cause kidney failure among other ailments.
“Potassium bromate, popularly known as tablets in the black economy, is always attractive to merchants of death who want to make an outrageous profit at the expense of citizens’ wellbeing.
“Bakers use potassium bromate because it helps to improve the texture of bread as well as increases its volume and it is relatively cheap.
“NAFDAC wishes to state that there are recommended healthy flour improvers approved by the Agency.’’
She disclosed that reiterating its resolve to reprimand offenders, operatives of NAFDAC raided and arrested suspects in connection with various fraudulent activities.
“A warehouse containing potassium bromate tablets and unregistered imported EDC – 2000 BREAD IMPROVER was raided by NAFDAC operatives on Dec. 7, 2022.
