Titanium dioxide

What this is

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) is a bright white pigment used in foods to make products look whiter or more opaque. Fast-food chains and manufacturers add it to items like candies, frostings, powdered doughnuts, and sauces to enhance color and visual appeal. The U.S. FDA allows titanium dioxide as a food-grade color additive, typically limited to ~1% of a food’s weight. For decades it was considered a neutral, safe ingredient. However, newer research on the nano-sized particles in titanium dioxide has raised questions about its long-term safety. Europe banned it as a food additive in 2022 after experts could not rule out DNA damage risk, so the safety debate continues.

Critical Endpoints

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