China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China has published a list of unqualified food and cosmetics imported to China in July and August this year, which includes three batches of potato chips imported to China in July.
According to AQSIQ, a batch of Pringles Potato Chips which was made by Procter & Gamble and weighed about 0.0952 tons were found to contain excessive amounts of potassium bromate when they were imported to China on July 10. Another two batches of potato crisps that were made by Japanese Bourbon and imported to China on July 27 were also found to contain excessive potassium bromate. The importer of all the three batches of potato crisp was said to be Zhuhai Duty-free Enterprise Group Company.
Hu Xinru, a public relations manager for Pringles Potato Chips, explained to local media that the concerned potato chips from P&G were intended for American and Japanese markets where potassium bromate is allowed for food, but they were found unqualified in China because China banned the use of potassium bromate in bread in 2005. Hu said diversified importing channels may make imported products not necessarily conform with China's standards. She said that P&G has had factories in China make Pringles in accordance with China's rules.
Potassium bromate is a kind of additive that is usually used in bread to improve the bakery effect and taste. Studies show that excessive potassium bromate will do harm to people's central nervous systems, blood and kidneys and may even cause cancer.
