In July 2022, the additive titanium dioxide was brought to the public sight by the news that Skittles were accused of causing DNA alterations. The reason is that US consumers are suing candy company Skittles over the high levels of titanium dioxide added to its candies, which can cause DNA changes and damage to organs such as the brain, as well as the liver and kidneys.

I. What is titanium dioxide?

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is a white solid/powder form amphoteric oxide, odorless, tasteless, and stable in physical and chemical properties. It was once considered as one of the best white pigments in the world today, and is widely used in industrial products, cosmetics and food.

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) has been a major ingredient in the global food and confectionery sector and is commonly used as a food colorant, known as "titanium white" or simply E171. In GB 2760-2014 "National Standard of Food Safety: Food Additives Use Standard", titanium dioxide can be used as a colorant in many kinds of food clearly. GB 1886.341-2021 "National Standard for Food Safety: Food Additive Titanium Dioxide" also makes a detailed description of the scope of application of titanium dioxide as a food additive, sensory indexes, physical and chemical indexes, detection methods, etc. Titanium dioxide is also included in the Catalogue of Feed Additives (2013), which is widely used in feed production as a colorant in feed additives.

II. Given these obvious advantages, why is titanium dioxide totally banned by the European Union?  

June 2016 - Article published in France about 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 the majority of Member States support EFSA's position and require more data to be published.

November 2019 -- The European Parliament and the Council amended Article (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products 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 (EC) No 1223/2009 Appendix II, III, IV and VI to adjust the requirements for the use of titanium dioxide.

June 2021 - The European Union Research 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 TiO₂ as a feed additive prevented the panel from reaching conclusions about the safety of TiO₂ for target species, consumers and the environment.

July 2021 - The European Medicines Agency (EMA) collaborates with the European Medicines Association to evaluate the use of E171 in medicinal products and its possible alternatives.

September 2021 - The European Medicines Agency (EMA) publishes an impact assessment of the use of E171 in medicinal products, and the UK Toxicology Committee has also issued their views on the EFSA opinion.

February 2022 - Annex II and III of Regulation (EC) No. 1333/2008 on the food additive titanium dioxide (E 171) are amended by the European Parliament and the Council. After a six-month transition period, titanium dioxide is completely banned as a food additive in the EU.

Titanium dioxide is in group 2B carcinogen on the list of Group 2 carcinogens issued by the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer. 2B is "possibly carcinogenic, but the evidence is not sufficient", that is, there is potential carcinogenicity. The French national Food, Environment and Labor Health Department through the experimental study of titanium dioxide mice found that titanium dioxide can lead to biological mechanism changes in mice, abnormal development and other problems. Therefore, it is concluded that titanium dioxide has a high risk of colon cancer, neuron damage and fertility, and has a certain risk of cancer. This also provides some evidence for the European Union to ban the substance.

The Food Chemical Reassessment Act of 2021, passed recently in the United States, requires a review of the safety of 10 additives, including titanium dioxide.

Although China has not made a ban on titanium dioxide regulations at present, but referring to the practice of the European Union, we could not rule out the possibility of future ban. Moreover, we believe that with the deepening of research on titanium dioxide, as well as the national increasing attention 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. Our feed enterprises should also be prepared in advance, looking for compliant alternative raw materials, in order to prepare for a smooth transition. Food partner network to remind relevant enterprises to timely understand more feed compliance dynamics, to achieve compliance production.