What are the warnings of the EU's total ban on titanium dioxide?

In July 2022, the additive titanium dioxide was brought into the spotlight by the news that Skittles were accused of causing DNA changes. The reason is that U.S. consumers sued candy companies for the high amount of titanium dioxide added to skittles, which can cause changes in human DNA, damage to organs such as the brain, and damage to the liver and kidneys.

What is titanium dioxide?

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is a white solid or powder-shaped amphoteric oxide, odorless, tasteless, stable physical and chemical properties, has been considered to be the best performance of a kind of white pigment in the world, widely used in industrial products, cosmetics and food.

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) has been a major ingredient player in the global food and confectionery sector, often used as a food colorant, known as "titanium white" or simply E171. In China's GB 2760-2014 "National Standard for the Use of Food Additives for Food Safety", titanium dioxide can be used as a colorant in a variety of foods. GB 1886.341-2021 "National Standard for Food Safety Titanium Dioxide as food additive" also describes in detail the scope of application of titanium dioxide as a food additive, sensory indicators, physical and chemical indicators, detection methods, etc. Titanium dioxide is also included in the "Catalog of Feed Additives (2013)" and is widely used in feed production as a colorant in feed additives.

Given such obvious advantages, why is titanium dioxide completely banned by the European Union? Food Partner Network takes a look.

June 2016 - France publishes a public article on the safety risks of titanium dioxide.

September 2016 - EFSA opinion states that E171 titanium dioxide does not pose a significant safety risk when used as a food additive and a majority of member States support EFSA's position and call for more data to be published.

In November 2019, the European Parliament and the Council amended Article (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetics to include the maximum concentration of titanium dioxide in use, conditions of use and warnings. For mask products containing titanium dioxide (nano) : do not use on the lips.

May 2021 - The European Commission amended Annex II, III, IV and VI of (EC) No 1223/2009 to adjust the requirements for the use of titanium dioxide.

June 2021 - The EU Study Group on Animal Feed Additives and Products issues a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of titanium dioxide as an additive for all animal feed. The lack of specific data on TIO 2 as a feed additive prevented the expert panel from drawing conclusions on the safety of TIO 2 for target species, consumers and the environment.

July 2021 - The European Medicines Agency (EMA), in collaboration with EMA, evaluates the use of E171 in medicines and its possible alternatives.

September 2021 - The European Medicines Agency (EMA) publishes an impact assessment for the use of E171 in medicines and the UK Toxicology Committee provides their views on the EFSA opinion.

February 2022 - Titanium dioxide as a food additive, the European Parliament and the Council amended Annexes II and III of Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on titanium dioxide as a food additive (E 171), which, after a transitional period of six months, completely banned titanium dioxide as a food additive in the EU.

Titanium dioxide is a 2B carcinogen in the list of group 2 carcinogens issued by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organization. 2B is "possibly carcinogenic, but the evidence is not sufficient", that is, there is potential carcinogenicity. The French National Food, Environment and Labor Health Agency found that titanium dioxide can cause changes in the biological mechanism of mice, developmental abnormalities and other problems through the experimental research on titanium dioxide in mice. Therefore, it can be concluded that titanium dioxide has a certain carcinogenic risk for colon cancer, neuronal damage and fertility. This also provides some evidence for the European Union to ban the substance.

The Food Chemical Reassessment Act of 2021, which was recently passed in the United States, requires the safety of ten additives to be re-evaluated, including titanium dioxide.

Although China has not banned titanium dioxide, referring to the practice of the European Union, it does not rule out the possibility of banning it in the future. Moreover, it is believed that with the deepening of research on titanium dioxide and the increasing attention of the state to food safety, the use of titanium dioxide as an additive is likely to be affected. Many enterprises at home and abroad have begun to look for new alternative products. We feed enterprises should also prepare in advance to find compliant alternative raw materials for a smooth transition. Food Partner Network reminds relevant enterprises to know more about feed compliance in a timely manner and achieve compliance production.