The director-general of health, Noor Hisham Abdullah, told Bernama the additive was certified as safe for use by experts of the Food and Agriculture Organisation and World Health Organisation.

The additive was also allowed in Singapore, Japan, the United States, Australia and New Zealand.

The Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association had written to the ministry urging a ban on the production of wheat flour containing benzoyl peroxide for fear it could cause cancer among consumers.

However, health ministry Food Safety and Quality director Nooraini Mohd Othman said benzoyl peroxide was not a carcinogenic substance.

Benzoyl peroxide is added to oxidise the natural carotenoid in flour to give it a white colour and is allowed under Malaysia Food Regulations in amounts not exceeding 50mg per kilogram of flour.

Dr Noor Hisham said the ministry would not hesitate to take appropriate action if there was scientific proof from international bodies showing that any ingredient in food was harmful to health.