What is Titanium Dioxide?
Titanium dioxide (TiO2), also known as E171 in Europe, is an inorganic compound used as a white pigment and opacifier in food products. It is one of the most widely used food colorants globally, providing brightness and white color to products like candy coatings, chewing gum, coffee creamer, icing, and sauces.
Common Uses
Titanium dioxide appears in hundreds of food products including Skittles, Starburst, chewing gum (Trident, Orbit), coffee creamers (Coffee-mate), cake frosting, salad dressings, and white chocolate. It is also used extensively in cosmetics, sunscreen, and paint.
Safety Assessment
In May 2021, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published a landmark safety assessment concluding that titanium dioxide could no longer be considered safe as a food additive. The key concern was genotoxicity — the potential for TiO2 nanoparticles to damage DNA. EFSA noted that while they could not establish a clear mechanism of toxicity, they could not rule out genotoxicity concerns, particularly with nanoparticle forms of TiO2.
The FDA maintains that titanium dioxide is safe for use in food at levels not exceeding 1% by weight. The agency reviewed EFSA findings but has not changed its position as of 2025.
Regulatory Status
- **United States**: FDA-approved (21 CFR 73.575), limited to 1% by weight of food
- **European Union**: Banned as food additive E171 since August 7, 2022 (Commission Regulation EU 2022/63)
- **Other countries**: Banned in several countries following the EU lead; still permitted in most of Asia and the Americas
Key Studies
- EFSA Panel on Food Additives (2021): "Safety assessment of titanium dioxide (E 171) as a food additive." EFSA Journal, 19(5):6585
- Bettini et al. (2017): Found that oral exposure to TiO2 nanoparticles in rats promoted preneoplastic lesions in the colon. Published in Scientific Reports.
- IARC: Titanium dioxide is classified as Group 2B (possibly carcinogenic to humans) based on inhalation studies, though this classification applies primarily to occupational dust exposure rather than oral ingestion.