Qualitative And Spectrophotometric Determination Of Potassium Bromate In Bread Samples Sold In Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria

Studies have shown that potassium bromate KBrO3 an oxidizing agent used in bread-making process is a possible human carcinogen. For this reason, it has been banned by some countries including Nigeria, while other countries such as United State of America set permissible limit for its use in flour, bread and other bakery products. Bread is commonly eaten by all socioeconomic class in Nigeria. Due to the adverse health effect of consumption of potassium bromate by humans, it became necessary to investigate its usage in bread making process in the area of study; Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria. Twenty brands of bread sample were obtained from the area of study and analyzed for the presence and concentration of potassium bromate using David Pearson 1976 method. Five brands of bread sample amongst the twenty brands of bread sample tested positive to the presence of potassium bromate. The quantity of potassium bromate present in the five brands of bread sample was determined using spectrophotometer (spectrum Lab 21A) at 620nm. The result showed that the samples contained 3.8µg/g, 1.4µg/g, 5.1µg/g, 1.7µg/g and 3.7µg/g of potassium bromate. These results are above the permissible limit allowed for potassium bromate in flour, bread and other bakery products by US Food and Drug Agency (FDA)) and contravenes the non usage of potassium bromate in bread making in Nigeria, stipulated by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control (NAFDAC) of Nigeria. The result of the study shows that the five brands of bread sample are unsafe for consumption.