Banned additives found in bread

By Chen Qian  |   2009-9-4  |     ONLINE EDITION

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QUALITY watchdogs in Guangzhou city have found bread laced with banned additives which may lead to cancer, Guangzhou Daily reported today.

China banned the use of the additive potassium bromate in 2005, which was used as a flour improver to strengthen dough.

The Guangzhou Quality and Technology Supervision Bureau discovered the chemical while testing bread during spot checks, and plans to check about 20 factories manufacturing food additives this year.

A hotel chef told the newspaper that 90 percent of bread sold in the market had additives because people like to eat soft bread.

"Additives can also cut manufacturing costs and cover up the mistakes of inexperienced bakers," chef Qiu Weiguo was quoted as saying.

Chinese