RAMALLAH, June 6, 2011 (WAFA) – Prime Minister Salam Fayyad Monday said that the government is going to prosecute owners of bakeries who used a banned chemical in making bread. He said the use of this chemical has been eliminated.

This issue went public last May when a reporter for a local newspaper published a story on the use of Potassium Bromate by many bakeries in the West Bank. The chemical substance is highly harmful and is said to cause cancer.

Fayyad received the journalist, Nael Mousa, of Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, at his office to thank him for his investigative reporting and assured him that the government will not take such matters lightly.

The Palestinian community was deeply disturbed and concerned by the news. Consumer protection groups accused the health and economy ministers of not monitoring the work of bakeries, calling for their immediate resignation and even for the resignation of the entire government.

The health ministry tested over 123 bakeries; six would be tried in a court for using illegal material in the bread.

R.Q./M.A.