Madhya Pradesh FDA can't test bread fungus

Bhopal: Presence of potassium bromate (classified as a possible carcinogen) in bread and bakery products is being investigaed by the MP Food and Drugs Administration (MP-FDA) too. A first for the MP-FDA, as it has never tested bread or bakery products for the potassium bromate or similar chemicals.
On Tuesday, office of the district chief medical and health officer (CMHO) ordered FDA sleuths to take random samples of bread or other products.Around six samples were collected. According to the FSSAI Act, test reports have to be released within 14 days.
MP-FDA would outsource these tests to a National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) facility, probably in Indore. While it is no surprise that MP-FDA cannot test a chemical like classified as a possible carcinogen, the shocker is that MP-FDA laboratory in Bhopal cannot even carry out tests for fungus in eatables.
Perishable items when collected for testing by FDA, need to be preserved before being tested. It is preserved in formalin, also used to preserve dead bodies. However, when a perishable item is dipped in formalin - the fungus dies and cannot be detected. "Laboratory testing for most perishable items like bread is often not possible because it takes around four days to eight days at least for a sample to reach the lab. By then the preservative takes hold and test is not possible," said a retired FDA official.