Titanium Dioxide

What this is

Titanium dioxide’s controversy centers on food-grade E171 particles, which include micro- and nano-sized fractions. EFSA updated its assessment in 2021 and said E171 could no longer be considered safe as a food additive because genotoxicity could not be ruled out and no acceptable daily intake could be established. The European Union then withdrew authorization for E171 in foods, with the main transition period ending August 7, 2022. Other authorities have disagreed or taken a less precautionary position: FDA still permits titanium dioxide as a color additive subject to specifications and a 1% by-weight use limit, while reviewing a petition to revoke that authorization; JECFA in 2023 retained an ADI not limited/not specified; and the UK COT judged dietary genotoxicity risk low and current UK dietary exposure unlikely to present health risk. Health Canada and FSANZ also reviewed the issue and did not find current dietary safety concerns.

Safety Review

The critical endpoints experts review in safety assessments. This is not a prediction of harm.

Food-grade E171 contains micro- and nanoscale TiO2 particles. EFSA's 2021 assessment could not rule out genotoxicity and could not establish an ADI, leading the EU to withdraw food authorization. JECFA, UK COT, Health Canada, and FSANZ reached less precautionary conclusions, so this remains a mixed-evidence, regulatory-disagreement issue.