Dive Brief:
- Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has issued a civil subpoena to Pillsbury owner General Mills as part of an investigation into bread additive potassium bromate.
- Uthmeier said his office will seek documentation on products using potassium bromate, documentation provided to buyers, safety research and "what executives at these companies have known" about their potential risks to consumers.
- Potassium bromate is added to flour in many packaged baked goods to strengthen dough and speed the breadmaking process. The ingredient, which has been linked to cancer in rats at significant dosages, is banned in California and several countries.
Dive Insight:
Florida's investigation comes as more U.S. states pass ingredient restrictions or bans in response to mounting concerns from consumers about the potential risks of ultraprocessed foods.
California in 2023 became the first U.S. state to ban potassium bromate in a law set to take effect in 2027. New York legislators voted to ban potassium bromate in April, though the governor has yet to sign the bill into law.
The attorney general's investigation could breathe new life into efforts to ban potassium bromate in Florida after a bill failed to gain traction last legislative session. Uthmeier said his investigation will start with General Mills and Pillsbury before moving on to other buyers and sellers of the ingredient.
"This is again just the initial aspect of an investigation," Uthmeier said in a press conference. "Nobody is getting sued yet."
The FDA currently allows 0.0075 parts potassium bromate for every 100 parts by weight flour used, or approximately 1 teaspoon per 800 cups of flour, according to Michigan State University. When properly heated or baked, potassium bromate largely disappears from the final product, though a U.K. study found the ingredient was still detectable at measurable levels after baking in close to a third of packaged breads tested.
The Environmental Working Group, a consumer advocacy organization, has identified over 200 products that contain potassium bromate such as Gomez flour tortillas and Hanover baked sourdough soft pretzels. The group notes that research has found the additive increased thyroid and kidney cancer in animals.
Potassium bromate is among ingredients set for a post-market review by the FDA as the agency reassess safety data of food additives that could carry a public health risk.
“This investigation is about protecting Florida families and providing transparency to our consumers,” Uthmeier said in a statement. “We are investigating the supply chain for the presence of potassium bromate in products sold across our state, including any disclosures made to purchasers and research on its potential health effects.”
