# Titanium Dioxide (E171)

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**Safety rating:** AVOID
**E-number:** E171
**CAS number:** 13463-67-7
**Category:** colorant
**FDA GRAS:** no
**Adverse events (FDA AERS):** 0
**FDA recalls:** 0
**Last updated:** 2026-04-02

## Summary

Titanium dioxide (E171) is a white pigment used as a food colorant in candies, chewing gum, coffee creamer, and sauces. It was banned by the European Union in August 2022 after EFSA concluded it could not rule out genotoxicity concerns. It remains FDA-approved in the United States.

## Regulatory status

| Country | Status |
| --- | --- |
| United States | approved |
| European Union | banned |
| United Kingdom | approved |
| Canada | approved |
| Australia | banned |
| Japan | not_evaluated |
| South Korea | approved |
| Brazil | approved |
| China | restricted |
| India | approved |

## Detailed analysis

## 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.

## Brands using Titanium Dioxide

- Skittles (10 products)
- McKee Foods Corporation (7 products)
- GENERAL MILLS SALES INC. (6 products)
- Trident (5 products)
- Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (4 products)
- Frankford Candy, LLC (3 products)
- Hostess Brands, LLC (3 products)
- General Mills, Inc. (2 products)
- Kraft (2 products)
- Mars, Inc. (2 products)
- PANOS Brands LLC (2 products)
- Sour Patch Kids (2 products)
- Target Stores (2 products)
- 1UP (1 product)
- Adrenalation Inc. (1 product)
- Bloom Packaging Corp. (1 product)
- Bob Evans (1 product)
- Brandable Inc (1 product)
- Cake Craft, LLC (1 product)
- Century Custom Molding, Inc. (1 product)
- Coastal Bay Confections (1 product)
- Colombina Candy Company Inc. (1 product)
- DUBBLE BUBBLE (1 product)
- Dentyne (1 product)
- Diamond Foods Holdings, LLC (1 product)
- Dunkin (1 product)
- Fairway Foods Inc. (1 product)
- Ferrara Candy Company (1 product)
- Giant Eagle, Inc. (1 product)
- HERDEZ (1 product)

## Sources

- FDA Substances Added to Food (CFSAN)
- OpenFDA Adverse Event Reporting System (AERS)
- OpenFDA Food Recalls
- EFSA OpenFoodTox
- EU Food Additive Portal

## Citation

Additive Facts. "Titanium Dioxide (E171) — Safety, regulation, and evidence." https://additivefacts.com/additives/titanium-dioxide. Accessed 2026-05-19.