Authorities in China have banned the production of two food additives used mainly to whiten flour, it has been reported.

The Ministry of Health said on its website that the two chemicals, benzoyl peroxide and calcium peroxide, were banned because "there is not need to use them in flour processing anymore".

It claimed that Chinese wheat planting and flour production had improved enough to make bleaching unnecessary.

Manufacturers in the country will no longer be allowed to produce the two food additives or use them in flour processing from the start of May 2011, though the sale of existing goods will be allowed until those products expire.