FDA Status
Banned
Since 2025-01-15
Preservative · CAS 7758-01-2
Potassium Bromate
FDA status: Banned. EU: Banned. 4 U.S. states regulate it.
1.0 / 5
Composite safety Banned / Avoid
Score 1 of 5
Potassium Bromate: 1/5 (Banned / Avoid)
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Potassium Bromate is banned by the FDA, though 4 U.S. states have enacted independent regulation on it, a sign federal and state views on this additive diverge. Its composite safety score is 1 out of 5 (Banned / Avoid), and the European Union separately classifies it as banned. It is used in a moderate number of tracked products.
- 50th percentile by tracked product prevalence
- Regulated by 4 U.S. states, independent of federal FDA status
The verdict
Potassium Bromate is banned by the FDA, but 4 states have acted independently, a sign federal and state views on this additive diverge. It is used in a moderate number of tracked products (50th percentile by tracked product count).
- 1/5
- Banned / Avoid
- Banned
- FDA status
- 50th pctile
- by product prevalence
- 4
- state regulations
Potassium Bromate, CAS 7758-01-2, is a preservative additive holding a composite safety score of 1 out of 5 (Banned / Avoid). According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Substances Added to Food inventory, it is currently classified as Banned (status effective 2025-01-15), while the European Union lists it as Banned. This ingredient appears in approximately 16 tracked food products across our database. It is most commonly used as Bread, rolls, baked goods (bromated flour).
Regulatory pressure is notable: 4 U.S. states have enacted legislation targeting Potassium Bromate, including California, Illinois, New York and 1 other. State actions frequently diverge from federal FDA policy, with legislative trends tending toward stricter controls than the federal baseline.
Peer-reviewed research has flagged 1 distinct area of health concern for Potassium Bromate, which factors directly into the assigned safety score. All figures above draw on FDA SAFFA inventory records, EU food additive regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, EFSA scientific opinions where published, and legislative records from individual U.S. states.
Regulatory Snapshot
| Property | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| FDA Status | Banned (2025-01-15) | FDA SAFFA |
| EU Status | Banned | EC 1333/2008 |
| E-Number | - | EU additive register |
| CAS Number | 7758-01-2 | CAS Registry |
| Category | Preservative | FDA functional class |
| Composite Safety Score | 1 / 5 (Banned / Avoid) | PlainIngredients methodology |
| EFSA ADI | Not established | EFSA scientific opinion |
| U.S. State Actions | 4 states | State legislative records |
| Tracked Products | 16 | Open Food Facts (US) |
Values reflect official agency classifications as published by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Union's regulatory framework. See our methodology for scoring details.
EU Status
Banned
U.S. State Regulations
4 states
California, Illinois
Safety Assessment
Potassium Bromate's 1/5 (Banned / Avoid) score reflects where this specific ingredient lands on that scale. The FDA has banned Potassium Bromate from food use, indicating sufficient evidence of safety concerns.
Notably, 4 US states have enacted regulations targeting Potassium Bromate, reflecting growing legislative attention to food additive safety at the state level. These state actions may differ from federal FDA policy and can range from outright bans to usage restrictions in certain product categories.
Research has identified 1 area of health concern associated with Potassium Bromate. Consumers with specific health conditions should consult a healthcare provider before consuming products containing this ingredient.
How Potassium Bromate compares
Where a safety score of 1/5 falls among all 4,509 scored ingredients tracked on PlainIngredients.
Ingredients by safety score (Potassium Bromate highlighted)
41 of 4,509 scored ingredients (0.9%) share a safety score of 1/5.
What is Potassium Bromate?
Flour improver that strengthens bread dough.
Health Concerns
- Possible human carcinogen (IARC Group 2B). Banned in EU, UK, Canada, China, India, Brazil.
Common Uses
Bread, rolls, baked goods (bromated flour)
State Regulations
| State | Status | Effective Date | Bill |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | Banned | 2027-01-01 | AB 418 |
| Illinois | Banned | 2027-01-01 | HB 2415 |
| New York | Banned | 2027-07-01 | A 6424 |
| West Virginia | Banned | 2026-06-01 | SB 467 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Potassium Bromate safe to consume?
Potassium Bromate has a safety score of 1/5 (Banned / Avoid). It is banned by the FDA. It is regulated in 4 US states. Check with a healthcare provider for personalized advice.
What is Potassium Bromate used for in food?
Potassium Bromate is commonly used as: Bread, rolls, baked goods (bromated flour). It belongs to the Preservative category of food additives.
Is Potassium Bromate banned in any US states?
Yes, Potassium Bromate is regulated in 4 US states: California, Illinois, New York, West Virginia. Regulations vary from full bans to restrictions on specific uses.
What is the difference between FDA and EU regulation of Potassium Bromate?
The FDA classifies Potassium Bromate as "Banned", while the EU status is "Banned". The FDA and EU use separate evaluation frameworks, the EU often applies the precautionary principle, sometimes banning additives that remain approved in the US. Always check both jurisdictions when evaluating food additive safety.
What health concerns are associated with Potassium Bromate?
Research has identified the following health concerns for Potassium Bromate: Possible human carcinogen (IARC Group 2B). Banned in EU, UK, Canada, China, India, Brazil.. These findings inform its safety score of 1/5. Consult a healthcare provider for personalized guidance, especially if you have pre-existing conditions.
How is the safety score for Potassium Bromate calculated?
The safety score of 1/5 for Potassium Bromate is a composite assessment based on FDA regulatory status, EU approval status, published scientific research on health effects, and state-level legislative actions. A score of 1 means "Banned / Avoid" and 5 means "Generally Safe." The score is updated as new regulatory actions or scientific evidence emerge.
Data Sources
- FDA Substances Added to Food (SAFFA) Inventory
- EU Food Additive Regulations (EC) No 1333/2008
- State food safety legislation and bill records
Related Preservative Ingredients
What to do about Potassium Bromate
This additive is flagged, worth checking labels for.
- Check the FDA status (Banned) and EU status (Banned) before assuming it is risk-free. How we score
- 4 states have acted on this additive, see which and why. State actions
- Scan a whole ingredient label at once to flag the concerning entries. Label checker
Safety scores summarise regulatory status and published concerns; they are not medical or dietary advice.
Every figure on PlainIngredients is rendered directly from FDA, EU, EFSA and U.S. state regulatory records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.