Titanium Dioxide, banned in Europe, is one of the most common food additives in the U.S.

Titanium dioxide is the most widely used whitening pigment in the world and has been linked to adverse health effects, particularly genotoxicity and intestinal inflammation. It is applied as food coloring and a whitening agent to a wide variety of foods, including chewing gum, cakes, candies, breads and ice cream. Because of health risks, France banned titanium dioxide as a food additive in 2020. Two years later the European Union also banned titanium dioxide as a food additive. But in the U.S., titanium dioxide is found all over the grocery shelves. Candy like Skittles, Starbursts, and Jell-O, gum like Trident White peppermint gum and Mentos Freshmint Gum, cake products like Duncan Hines Creamy Vanilla Frosting, and Nabisco Chips Ahoy! cookies are just a few of the myriad food items that contain the additive.

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The science isn’t clear-cut. Some studies in animals haven’t shown toxic effects. Scientists also disagree about which studies are relevant to how people consume it. Before the EU banned it in food, food-safety experts identified that titanium dioxide had the potential to cause damage to DNA. But they were uncertain about how exactly it happens and at what dose the damage starts to occur. So they could no longer consider titanium dioxide safe when used in food.

A Series on Food Additives - Titanium Dioxide

Titanium dioxide (aka E 171) is one food additive that is widely used in food products, pharmaceuticals, and health and hygiene products. It is used mainly as a coloring agent and opacifying agent to improve the appearance and taste of processed foods. It is found in over 900 food products including pastries, sauces, icing, candies, beverages, and chewing gum. It is estimated that dietary exposure to titanium dioxide may be as much as 1 to 4 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day. Amounts consumed may be even higher in children than in adults due to dietary patterns.

Background - Toxicity of Titanium Dioxide as a Food Additive

Titanium dioxide has been the subject of numerous evaluations by various scientific bodies...

EFSA Finds Titanium Dioxide is Not Safe for Food

On May 6, 2021, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) updated its 2016 safety assessment of the food additive titanium dioxide (TiO2, E 171) and concluded that it can no longer be considered safe as a food additive despite EFSA’s findings in 2016 that E 171 did not raise a genotoxic concern.

Is Titanium Dioxide Safe to Eat? How It's Really Used in Skittles

Here's what experts have to say about this food additive, which is tightly regulated by the FDA.

Titanium dioxide: The additive E171 is finally recognised as unsafe

The additive titanium dioxide - usually abbreviated as E171 in the list of ingredients – serves as a white colourant in food and is used in cake decorations, sugar glazes and sweets. Two years after the ban of E171 by the French government, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has finally concluded that “E171 can no longer be considered as safe when used as a food additive”.

Titanium dioxide: Which foods contain this harmful additive?

According to a database from the US Department of Agriculture, titanium dioxide is currently used in about 13,000 brand-name food products. Titanium dioxide does not have to be listed by name on ingredient lists—instead, food companies can just call it “artificial color” or other similarly vague terms—meaning 13,000 products is an underestimate.

Titanium dioxide: Why FDA should ban this harmful additive

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is a chemical that is currently approved for use in the US as a coloring additive in foods, medical products, drugs, and cosmetics. The additive can be found on grocery store shelves in a wide range of food products, including baked goods, chewing gum, chocolate, puddings, hard-shelled candies, frosting, dressings, sauces, and coffee creamers. Titanium dioxide does not have a nutritional or preservative function, but instead is used solely for superficial purposes, adding a white color and brightness to foods and beverages. Many foods that contain titanium dioxide are specifically marketed toward children.

What is titanium dioxide?

Most commonly used in candy, it can also be found in salad dressings, chewing gum, ice cream, frozen pizzas, drink and jello mixes and many other food categories. Titanium dioxide creates a smooth finish and adds shine and brightness to other colors. This food chemical has been used in food for more than half a century, but recent studies show it may be harmful.

What Is Titanium Dioxide—And Do You Really Have to Worry About It in Your Food?

Ultimately, most experts advise moderation, as titanium dioxide is typically found in processed foods that come with their own health risks. "People eating lots of candy should be more worried about the sugar and how it can cause high blood pressure and obesity," says Westerhoff. Other experts say there is simply no conclusive evidence at this point that titanium dioxide is damaging to humans after ingesting. Kaminski in particular said the research studies cite health hazards that were found by using high doses of the product, which "you would not normally see in food." "I don't see the scientific evidence in the literature that would cause people any concern," said Kaminski.