India is a vast country with numerous resources of food and water. Water is an essential need for life and that water should be fresh and harmless is needless to say. Considering the safety issues and safe drinking water the 'Bromate Proposal' was made by FSSAI. What would be the effects of this 'Bromate Proposal'? and what are those standards made by FSSAI? Well for the above issues this page contains.
- What are FSSAI and its license?
- What is Bromate?
- What is the 'Bromate Proposal' of FSSAI
- The report of BARC or 'Bhabha Atomic Research Centre'
- The Recommendations of the World Health Organisation (WHO)
- The standard proposed by FSSAI.
Now, let us go one by one. We will start with understanding FSSAI first in brief as it is commonly known by everyone.
What Is FSSAI?
This acronym stands for 'Food Safety and Standard Authority of India'. It is a government body for ensuring the standards of food and drinks according to scientific parameters in India. If you are a food processing unit or restaurant owner then it is mandatory to obtain the FSSAI license.
What Is Bromate?
It is also known as Potassium Bromate. It is to some extent accepted as a cancer-causing chemical. This is produced during the ozonation of water that contains natural bromide.
Earlier it was in the news that bread containing bromate is harmful. Bread contains this oxidiser as it is used to enhance the elasticity of dough and strengthen it.
It is regarded as harmful as it can disrupt the genital material within the cell and it can also transform Into a molecule called oxides. These reactive molecules can damage our DNA and develop cancer.
What Is 'Bromate Proposal' Of FSSAI?
As FSSAI is all in all for standardization of food and drinks. This Bromate Proposal was made for water safety. As mentioned above written that Bromate is used to make the dough perfect for baking bread though it is harmful but is used. So, It has a water application too because it works as a cleanser to disinfect water for keeping it safe and drinkable for a long time. Knowing the fact that excess of everything is bad the FSSAI has allowed a certain proportion of Bromate in water. According to FSSAI, the Bromate is addictive for bread but a toxin for water still FSSAI has approved it for water. Why? Because they have a standard quantity to be present in water that is too little to harm anyone. The water here meant only packaged water or bottled water. Because that is to be kept safe for a long time and for that the Bromate is used and the Bromate Proposal came into action. There is no need to add Bromate in fresh water as it is added to keep it fresh for a long time. If you are running a packaged drinking water business then you will have to maintain the standard of the purity of water according to FSSAI and that business world would be illegal if you did not obtain the FSSAI license as soon as possible. It is mandatory for all entrepreneurs dealing in the drinking water business to get an FSSAI license according to section 31 of the food and safety standard act.
The Report Of BARK or Bhabha Atomic Research Center.
The scientists at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre published a report of research conducted in 2015. They picked up some random samples of packaged drinking water as bottled water and found, as it was written in the report, that the level of Bromate in that packaged drinking water was 27% which is a very big quantity and very harmful too.
This report made FSSAI set a standard quantity of Bromate in packaged drinking water or bottled water. The ground realities of our country would have to be taken into consideration before paying anything.
The Recommendations Of World Health Organisation On 'Bromate Proposal'.
The World Health Organisation or WHO has recommended that no toxic contamination should be present in water at all if speaking ideally. But to detect contamination it was liable to use Bromate as the facilities were not developed to detect contamination in water. So, countries like the USA and EU European Union have set a benchmark for Bromate and that is 10 micrograms per litre. In Australia, it is 20 micrograms per litre. Even the USA has developed a testing method that can confirm the presence of Bromates even at the limit of 0.2 micrograms per litre. But that is not the case with the EU. They are fixed still at 10 micrograms per litre.
The Standard Posed By FSSAI For 'Bromate Proposal'.
After assessing the utility and harmful effects of Bromate for food and drinks. The excessive use of this would be harmful. Keeping in view the report presented by Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and recommendations of the World Health Organisation. Following the examples of the USA and the EU and after understanding the ground realities of our country India. The FSSAI has set a standard quantity of Bromate to be used in packaged drinking water and bottled water of up to 10 micrograms per litre and excess to this would not be appreciated. That makes the 'Bromate Proposal' of FSSAI for packaged drinking water.
As a government authority and taking all prior precautions the FSSAI has understood the good and bad impact of Bromate has proposed what we called 'Bromate Proposal' after analysis of the report of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and the recommendations of WHO. This can be controversial as it is an issue of public health and safety but 10 micrograms per litre is a safe number as it is free from risk. Packaged drinking water and bottled water should be sold with prior safety and purity. The importance of the FSSAI license is high and must be obtained by drinking water business owners.
