FDB to check the use of bromide by bakers

Takoradi, April 7, GNA - The Food and Drugs Board (FDB) has adopted new measures including unannounced inspection of bakeries and premises of individual bakers in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis as a means of checking the suspected use of potassium bromide in bread baking. It has also decided to give a "handsome" reward to any person who would give information that would help to identify sources of distribution and users of the substance, said to be very injurious to health.

Mr George Paintsil, Officer in-charge of the Western and Central Region zone of the FDB who announced these at a meeting with bakers in Takoradi at the weekend gave the assurance that the identity of informants would not be disclosed.

He urged member of the Bakers' Association to help the FDB to bring the recalcitrant ones to book, saying, offenders would be severely sanctioned if caught.

Referring to recent media reports about the alleged use of bromide by some bakers in their operations, he said these have adversely affected the industry as bread consumption had decreased considerably. Mr Paintsil said in order to "eliminate the fear associated with bread consumption; law-abiding members should not be accomplices but help to weed-out the bad nuts among them by reporting the activities of the unscrupulous ones".

He said flour had been fortified and there was no need to mix it with any chemicals.

Mr Paintsil emphasised that potassium bromide was dangerous to health and therefore should not be used for the baking of bread. Mrs Susannah Nyame, President of the Takoradi Bakers Association said it was the responsibility of genuine bakers to support efforts by the FDB and other agencies, so that the malpractices did not go on to dent the image of the Association.

She called for collaboration among the Association, the FDB and the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly to ensure that all bakers were registered.

The bakers called on the Takoradi Flour Mill to maintain the quality of its produce at all times.