Potassium bromate

Potassium Bromate

Potassium bromate, also known as E924, is a chemical compound often used as a flour treatment agent in the baking industry. It is a strong oxidizing agent that chemically ages flour much faster than open air.

Chemical Properties

Potassium bromate is an oxidizing agent, with the chemical formula KBrO3. It is a white crystalline powder that is soluble in water. The bromate ion is a powerful oxidizer, similar to the perchlorate ion.

Uses

Potassium bromate is primarily used as a flour treatment agent in the baking industry. It strengthens dough, leading to higher rising and a finished product with a finer grain. It is also used in the production of malt barley where the United States FDA has prescribed certain conditions where it may be used safely, which includes labeling standards for the finished malt barley product.

Health Effects

Potassium bromate has been classified as a Category 2B carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). It has been banned from use in food products in Europe, Canada, and several other countries. In the United States, it has not been banned but is not recommended for use in California, which requires products containing it to carry a warning label.

Regulation

In the European Union, potassium bromate has been banned as a food additive. In Canada, it is not permitted in food. In the United States, it is banned in California. The United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO) have also expressed concerns about its safety.

See Also

• Bromate
• Flour treatment agent
• Food safety
• E number