CSE report hits sale of bread items in Delhi

Grocery shops in the city have started to see a drop in the sale of bread and similar items after the Centre for Science and Environment released a report claiming detection of carcinogenic elements in commercial samples of widely-consumed brands of bread.

Headlines about the presence of carcinogenic elements in a large number of brands of bread have shocked people in the city.

“The reason that the news about bread hit people hard was because the samples were not only picked from fast food outlets, but also paos, atta breads and whole wheat breads that most of us eat thinking they are a healthier option,” said a local consumer.

Delhiites say they no longer trust packaged foods. “Bread is something you start your day with. We all consume bread at least once a day, to find out that they are not only unhealthy, but cancer causing is very scary. We have decided not to buy bread till the time these toxins are not banned,” said Smriti Chopra, a dietician. The local grocery shops have already started to face the brunt after trusted bread manufacturers made headlines.

“The sales have started to drop already, people have started questioning the brand names and asking details of contents in the breads on sale. We will have to keep less stock if the attitude remains the same,” said a general store owner in Jangpura.

As per the CSE, products of Perfect Bread, Harvest Gold and Britannia were found to contain high levels of potassium bromate and/or iodate. Harvest Gold Sandwich bread had the highest concentration of these chemicals. The products of all-popular fast food outlets selling pizzas and burgers — KFC, Pizza Hut, McDonald’s, Subway and Domino’s — tested positive for potassium bromate or iodate, but at levels lower than those found in bread, pao and bun. These brands have been popular household names and a few Delhiites said if bread was not made by corporate giants it might be a better solution. “I think if Patanjali made bread it would be safe enough to eat. We need more regulations and checks — the government should have more checks for the food companies,” said another Delhiite, Jyotsna Dhawan.

Experts feel that there are no set standards on limiting or allowing additives in the country.