Potassium bromate E924
oxidizing agent — Primarily synthetic.
Potassium bromate
CAS: 7758-01-2
Factual Regulatory Reference
This database provides factual regulatory information compiled from official government sources. It does not constitute medical, nutritional, or safety advice. Regulatory status varies by country and is subject to change. Always refer to your local regulatory authority for the most current information.
? Did You Know?
Potassium bromate isn't just a food additive — it's also used in industrial applications.
Regulatory Analysis
Potassium bromate is the clearest case of US regulatory exceptionalism in food additives: banned by the EU, UK, Canada, Brazil, China, Japan, and virtually every other major jurisdiction after IARC classified it as a Group 2B carcinogen and JECFA withdrew its ADI in 1992, yet still technically legal in American flour at up to 75 ppm. The US position rests on the argument that bromate fully converts to innocuous bromide during baking, but analytical detection of residual bromate in finished bread has undermined this claim. The voluntary phase-out by most US bakeries demonstrates that market pressure can accomplish what regulatory action has not, raising questions about whether formal approval status matters when industry self-regulation effectively removes a substance from commerce.
Detailed Regulatory Assessment
European Union (EFSA)
Banned since 1990s
United States (FDA)
Legal but rarely used; max 75 ppm in flour, must bake out to undetectable levels
Japan (MHLW)
Banned in 1992
Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI)
International Standard (JECFA)
mg/kg body weight per day
European Standard (EFSA)
Everyday Perspective
For a 60kg adult, this limit is roughly equivalent to consuming:
Natural Occurrence
This additive is not known to occur naturally in significant quantities.
Manufacturing
Produced by electrolysis of potassium bromide solution or by reacting bromine with potassium hydroxide.
Applications Beyond Food
Laboratory reagent, analytical chemistry