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Titanium dioxide in food: why the EU banned it and what the FDA says.

Updated

What titanium dioxide (E171) does in food, EFSA’s 2021 opinion, the EU removal effective February 2022, the FDA’s different view, the IARC Group 2B listing, how it can hide behind “artificial color”, and catalog products that list it.

Quick answer

Titanium dioxide (E171) is a white color additive. In May 2021 EFSA concluded it can no longer be considered safe as a food additive because genotoxicity concerns could not be excluded, and an EU regulation removed it from food from February 2022. The FDA still permits it under 21 CFR 73.575, up to 1 percent of the food by weight, and says its own review found no genotoxicity concern. The FDA also does not require it to be named on the label.

EFSA opinion
May 6, 2021
EU food use
Removed from Feb 7, 2022
FDA limit
1% of food by weight
IARC
Group 2B (2010)

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01 · A closer look

What EFSA concluded.

In May 2021 EFSA’s re-evaluation concluded that titanium dioxide can no longer be considered safe when used as a food additive, because genotoxicity concerns could not be excluded. The FDA’s summary adds that EFSA found no general organ toxicity and no reproductive or developmental effects.

EFSA: titanium dioxide E171 no longer considered safe when used as a food additive (May 6, 2021)

02 · A closer look

The EU rule.

Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/63, adopted January 14, 2022, removed titanium dioxide (E 171) from the list of authorised food additives. It took effect February 7, 2022. Foods produced under the earlier rules could be sold until August 7, 2022 and may stay on the market until their date of minimum durability. E 171 stays allowed in medicines pending alternatives.

Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/63 amending Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 as regards titanium dioxide (E 171)

03 · A closer look

The FDA’s position.

The FDA permits titanium dioxide as a color additive in food under 21 CFR 73.575 as long as the titanium does not exceed 1 percent of the food’s weight. It says some of the genotoxicity tests EFSA relied on used materials unlike the color additive or exposure routes unrelated to eating, that its own review found no genotoxicity concern, and that titanium dioxide did not cause cancer in National Toxicology Program studies. It notes that the 2023 JECFA re-evaluation concluded added titanium dioxide is safe, and that the UK Food Standards Agency, Health Canada and FSANZ disagree with EFSA. A color additive petition filed April 14, 2023 asks the FDA to repeal the food listing; the FDA page, current as of March 4, 2024, says it is under review, so check for newer action.

FDA: titanium dioxide as a color additive in foods (content current as of Mar 4, 2024)

04 · A closer look

What IARC says.

IARC’s official list classifies titanium dioxide in Group 2B, possibly carcinogenic to humans, from its 2010 evaluation (Volume 93). The group describes the strength of evidence, not the size of any risk from eating it.

IARC Monographs: agents classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1 to 123 (official list)

05 · A closer look

Reading a US label.

The FDA says titanium dioxide may appear as “artificial color” or “colored with titanium dioxide” and that listing it by name is not required. A label that says only “artificial color” therefore may or may not contain it, and this checker, which matches the ingredient text, can only report the name when the maker prints it. The products below name it on their recorded label; open any for the full statement and date.

The short answer

Our picks for titanium dioxide in food

No pick yetEvery scored titanium dioxide in food label lists at least one of the groups we check, so nothing here earns a pick.

Clear noLittle Debbie Starfish Shortbread Cookies (lists seed oils, artificial dyes, artificial preservatives, hydrogenated oils and banned-abroad additives), Our Specialty Vanilla Shortbread Cookies with Vanilla Buttrcreme Dessert Dippers (lists seed oils, artificial dyes, carrageenan, artificial preservatives and banned-abroad additives), Yoder's Fat Free Cottage Cheese (lists artificial dyes, carrageenan, artificial preservatives and banned-abroad additives), plus 21 more with a listed group.

Ranked from 24 of 24 products with current labels. Every product is in the table below; a score reflects labels and claims, not nutrition, allergies or safety.

Compare the recorded labels

Find the ingredients that matter to you.

24 of 24 products

“No …” columns: None found on the label · Listed on the label · Unknown. Diet fit: Fits · Doesn’t fit · Unknown (rules; not medical advice). Claims: verified · not established. Default: most check marks first; not a health score.

Compare product claims and recorded ingredients. Click a column heading to sort.
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55 / 1007 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimProduct details →3
55 / 1007 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimProduct details →4
55 / 1007 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimProduct details →4
55 / 1007 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimProduct details →3
55 / 1007 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimProduct details →4
53 / 1008 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimProduct details →4
53 / 1008 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimProduct details →4
47 / 1006 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimProduct details →3
47 / 1006 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimFind where to buy ↗Product details →3
47 / 1006 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimProduct details →2
47 / 1006 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimProduct details →3
47 / 1006 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimProduct details →3
47 / 1006 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimFind where to buy ↗Product details →3
47 / 1006 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimProduct details →3
47 / 1006 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimProduct details →3
39 / 1005 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimProduct details →2
39 / 1005 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimProduct details →1
39 / 1005 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimProduct details →1
39 / 1005 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimProduct details →2
39 / 1005 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimProduct details →2
33 / 1005 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimProduct details →3
33 / 1005 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimProduct details →3
31 / 1004 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimProduct details →2
31 / 1004 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimProduct details →2
How the clean score works

No setup needed, and strict: a full 100 needs every additive group clear and a verified organic claim (animal foods also need a verified grass-fed or pasture-raised claim; wild seafood and salt, which have no USDA organic standard, are scored without the organic points, and plant-based milks, cheeses and proteins without the feeding claim). Points: the nine additive groups (seed oils, artificial dyes, MSG, artificial sweeteners, carrageenan, artificial preservatives, hydrogenated oils, corn syrups, banned-abroad additives) share 60 points equally — not found earns a group’s full share, “may contain” earns half, listed earns 0; a verified organic claim is worth 25; a verified grass-fed or pasture-raised claim is worth 15 and counts only for animal foods. No claim, or an expired or unverified claim, earns nothing, so products without those claims cannot reach 100. Unverified or expired ingredient labels receive no score. Equal scores are equal. Ties are ordered by brand. Unknown and stale evidence never passes “Only show matches.” Producer claims and prices do not affect this score. This is not a nutrition, allergy, or safety rating.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Buying links do not influence ingredient results. “Buy on Amazon” opens a reviewed product listing; “Find where to buy” opens the maker’s page. Confirm the package, seller, stock, and current price before checkout. Price observations expire after 30 days.

Primary sources

Sources

  1. EFSA: titanium dioxide E171 no longer considered safe when used as a food additive (May 6, 2021) efsa.europa.eu
  2. Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/63 amending Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 as regards titanium dioxide (E 171) eur-lex.europa.eu
  3. FDA: titanium dioxide as a color additive in foods (content current as of Mar 4, 2024) fda.gov
  4. IARC Monographs: agents classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1 to 123 (official list) monographs.iarc.who.int

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