Potassium Bromate
PlainFoodSafe flags Potassium Bromate as a banned in some states. CSPI Chemical Cuisine rates it “Avoid.” It appears in 405 indexed US food products.
1/5 from FDA SAFFA + CSPI Chemical Cuisine
How common is vs other flagged additives?
Number of indexed products containing each of the most common flagged additives — Potassium Bromate highlighted.
Indexed products containing each flagged additive. Source: Open Food Facts ingredient lists × FDA SAFFA × CSPI Chemical Cuisine.
Function
DOUGH STRENGTHENER, FLOUR TREATING AGENT, LEAVENING AGENT, OXIDIZING OR REDUCING AGENT
Safety Concerns
banned_some_states
Safety Assessment
Potassium Bromate has a lower safety score (1/5), indicating notable concerns from food safety researchers or advocacy organizations. Review the safety concerns above for specific details. Individuals with sensitivities should consider alternatives. CSPI recommends avoiding this ingredient.
What the Data Says About
Potassium Bromate currently appears in 405 products across the OpenFoodFacts catalog we index, which gives a concrete measure of its footprint on US grocery shelves. Our internal safety score of 1/5 synthesizes FDA Substances Added to Food (SAFFA) regulatory status — currently "Approved" — with the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) Chemical Cuisine classification of "Avoid." These two frameworks capture different questions: regulators ask whether exposure at typical intake is acceptable, while consumer-advocacy groups examine cumulative dietary load and vulnerable-population risk.
In food manufacturing, Potassium Bromate functions as a dough strengthener, flour treating agent, leavening agent, oxidizing or reducing agent. That technical role explains why it recurs across many product categories — formulators select specific additives for stability, shelf life, color, or texture performance, and substitution is rarely a one-for-one swap when regulations or consumer preferences shift. Inspection and outbreak data often trace back to breakdown in the control of exactly these kinds of functional ingredients, either through contaminated batches, undisclosed substitutions, or labeling errors that trigger FDA-initiated recalls.
Documented concerns for Potassium Bromate include: banned_some_states Consumers with diagnosed sensitivities, pregnant individuals, and parents of young children generally benefit from reviewing product-level detail pages to see the specific items in our catalog that contain this ingredient.
Safety Profile at a Glance
| Source | Classification | Year |
|---|---|---|
| FDA SAFFA | Approved | 2024 |
| CSPI Chemical Cuisine | Avoid | 2024 |
| PlainFoodSafe Score | 1/5 | 2026 |
| Product footprint | 405 products | OpenFoodFacts |
FDA SAFFA database, CSPI Chemical Cuisine ratings, OpenFoodFacts product index. See methodology.
Products Containing
Showing 50 of 405 products
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Potassium Bromate safe to eat? ▼
Potassium Bromate has a safety score of 1/5. The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) rates it as "Avoid." FDA status: Approved. Always check with a healthcare provider if you have specific dietary concerns.
What products contain Potassium Bromate? ▼
Potassium Bromate is found in 405 products in our database, spanning various food categories and brands.
What does Potassium Bromate do in food? ▼
Potassium Bromate is used as a dough strengthener, flour treating agent, leavening agent, oxidizing or reducing agent in food products.
Where does this ingredient safety data come from? ▼
Safety data comes from the FDA's SAFFA (Substances Added to Food) database, CSPI (Center for Science in the Public Interest) ratings, and the OpenFoodFacts product database. Product counts reflect items cataloged in OpenFoodFacts.