• The state of Florida is becoming a new focal point in the escalating debate over the safety of food additives used for decades in the baking industry.
State Attorney General James Uthmeier issued a civil subpoena to General Mills, the American giant known for brands such as Pillsbury and Gold Medal, requesting detailed information about the use of the additive potassium bromate in its products distributed on the local market.
Potassium bromate is a bread improver that has been used in industrial production since 1914. The substance strengthens the gluten structure, allows for better leavening, a finer crumb, and an extended shelf life of baked goods. These properties have made it popular in rapid production systems, but its safety has long been questioned.
The World Health Organization, through the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), classifies potassium bromate as "possibly carcinogenic to humans", based on animal studies that indicated an increased risk of tumors. The substance has been banned in the European Union since 1990, as well as in Canada, China, India and dozens of other countries. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) maintains it on the GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) list, considering that, under controlled conditions of use and at high baking temperatures, it transforms into a harmless compound similar to salt. However, authorities in Florida are not satisfied with this position.
The subpoena to General Mills and its subsidiary specifically targets several types of flour sold in 50-pound bags: Pillsbury Potentate High Gluten Flour, Pillsbury Best Bakers Patent Flour, Gold Medal All Aces Bakery Flour and Gold Medal Superlative Bakers Flour. State authorities are seeking data on products containing the additive, a list of Florida’s top buyers from 2023 to 2026, information provided to them, and any internal studies on health effects. They are also investigating whether the products have reached public schools in the state.
Consumers demand more transparency
Florida's move is part of a broader trend at the state level in the US. California has banned potassium bromate starting in 2027, along with other additives, and New York has adopted similar restrictions. Other states such as Illinois, Arkansas and Maryland are considering comparable measures, and Utah has already banned its use in school lunches. A similar bill in Florida previously failed, but now could be revived with the support of the attorney general.
The overseas bakery industry points out that many manufacturers have already voluntarily reduced or eliminated the additive, and joint guidelines with the FDA set strict limits on remaining residues. However, the Florida investigation is seeking concrete evidence and could expand the checks to other suppliers. General Mills has not yet made public statements on the subject.
The case brings to the fore the questions raised by additives inherited from the not-so-distant industrial past of food production, at a time when consumers are increasingly demanding greater transparency and caution. As more states take on the role of regulators, large manufacturers face a fragmented regulatory landscape that could force costly reformulations and complex adaptations of supply chains.
For Romanian consumers, who closely follow international developments in food safety, this investigation serves as an important reminder: product labels and composition deserve increased attention, especially when it comes to staple foods such as bread and pastries.
Article written by Gabriela Dan, Editor-in-Chief Arta Albă
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