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The Dirty List

The Ingredients Nobody Explains to You.

What they are, where they hide, what the research says, and what to use instead. No fear. Just facts.

Harmful Ingredients

Corn Syrup (Glucose Syrup)

Formaldehyde (in Hair Smoothing Treatments)

BHA (Butylated Hydroxyanisole)

PFAS (Forever Chemicals)

Ractopamine

Maltodextrin

Bisphenol A (BPA) (can lining chemical)

Titanium Dioxide (E171)

Artificial Sweeteners (Aspartame, Sucralose)

Emulsifiers (Polysorbate 80, CMC)

Potassium Bromate

Potassium Bromate

Description:

Potassium bromate is a dough-strengthening chemical used in some breads and baked goods to help dough rise higher and hold shape. You’ll often see it listed as “potassium bromate” or “bromated flour.” It’s mainly a “perfect loaf” ingredient for mass production, not a nutrition ingredient.

Found In:

  • White bread / sandwich bread

  • Hamburger & hot dog buns

  • Bagels

  • Pizza crust

  • Flour tortillas

  • Bromated bread flour sold at retail

  • In-store bakery rolls and rustic loaves

  • Frozen bread and roll dough

Health Impact:

Potassium bromate is controversial because it has been linked in research to cancer risk in animal studies, which is why it is treated as a high-concern additive. California has gone further than that. Under the California Food Safety Act, codified at Health and Safety Code section 109025, potassium bromate may not be manufactured, sold, delivered, distributed, held or offered for sale in California commencing January 1, 2027, with a civil penalty of up to five thousand dollars for a first violation and ten thousand dollars for each one after that.

Potential concerns:

  • Cancer risk flags in animal research

  • Adds an unnecessary chemical exposure for something as common as bread

  • Especially relevant when bread is eaten daily (high frequency exposure)

DD takeaway: If you eat bread often, this is a reasonable one to limit where you can.

Healthier Alternatives:

Look for breads that say:

  • Unbromated flour

  • No potassium bromate

  • Organic (still check labels, but generally cleaner ingredient standards)

Better “clean bread” pattern:

  • Ingredients that look like: flour + water + yeast + salt

  • Optional: olive oil, seeds, herbs, but no lab-sounding conditioners

Scientific Evidence:

  • The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified potassium bromate as “possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B)” based on animal evidence.

  • California Food Safety Act (AB 418, 2023), Health and Safety Code section 109025(a)(2): prohibits manufacturing, selling, delivering, distributing, holding or offering for sale in commerce any food for human consumption containing potassium bromate (CAS number 7758-01-2), commencing January 1, 2027. Verified against the statutory text on leginfo.legislature.ca.gov 2026-08-24

Screenshot of Diet Discipline website

Smart Swap

Clean Upgrade

bromated white bread, buns, or pizza dough → an organic or “unbromated” loaf (organic flour never uses potassium bromate)