A proposed additive ban could change New York’s pizza and bagels, some say for the better
NBC News • • business
Key Points:
- Salvatore Lo Duca, owner of a Brooklyn pizzeria, discovered that bromated flour used in their thin-crust pizza contains a suspected carcinogen, potassium bromate, which is banned in many countries.
- New York state lawmakers passed a bill to ban potassium bromate, sparking concern among pizzerias and bagel shops that rely on the additive for its dough-strengthening and quick-rise properties.
- Some bakers, like Jesse Spellman of Utopia Bagels, are experimenting with alternative flours and longer fermentation times, though these methods are more expensive and time-consuming.
- Experts highlight health risks associated with potassium bromate, linking it to cancer in lab animals, and many see the ban as a positive move toward healthier baked goods.
- If signed into law, businesses will have a grace period to transition away from bromated flour, with some industry voices optimistic that the change could ultimately improve dough quality and pizza taste.