Potassium bromate is a food additive used as a flour improver to strengthen dough and help it rise during baking. It is commonly added to baked goods made from dough, such as white breads, rolls, pizza dough, and buns. Despite health concerns, potassium bromate is legal for use in the U.S., and the FDA hasn’t reviewed it since at least 1973. Many packaged baked goods are made with flour that may contain potassium bromate, an additive linked to cancer. EWG has identified over 130 different products that contain potassium bromate, including Best Choice Wheat Sliced Bread, Gomez Flour Tortillas, Hy Vee Blueberry Crisp, and Balduccis Sugar Cookies, among others. Here is a list of foods that may contain potassium bromate:
- White breads
- Rolls
- Pizza dough
- Buns
- Flour tortillas
- Sugar cookies
- Blueberry crisp
- Soups
- Broths
- Bouillon
- Snacks
- Chips
- Salad dressings
- Cookies
- Seasonings
- Frozen meals
- Ice cream
- Lunch meats
- Chinese and other Asian food
To avoid potassium bromate, it is recommended to purchase natural-brand processed foods that don’t contain it and to check labels for "potassium bromate" or "bromated flour".