Shillong, June 23 (IANS): Food Safety Officers in Meghalaya have collected samples of bread from various bakery units across the state to check if they contain carcinogenic compounds.

"We have already sent the bread samples to the Assam Public Health Laboratory on Wednesday to check if they contain any hazardous chemicals like potassium bromate and iodate," Health and Family Welfare Minister Alexander Hek said on Thursday.

However, he said the government was yet to receive the reports from the laboratory.

"In case the samples fail to comply with the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, and it is reported they contain such additives, necessary action as per the provisions of the act shall be initiated," Hek said.

On Monday, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India's (FSSAI) banned the use of potassium bromate as an additive in food products.

Potassium bromate is known to be a category 2B carcinogen and is already banned in Britain, the European Union, Australia, Canada and Sri Lanka, among other countries.