Titanium Dioxide
The short version
A brilliant white opacifier — banned as a food additive in the EU since 2022 due to nanoparticle genotoxicity concerns.
It carries notable concerns — tight limits, real sensitivities, or contested safety. The Safety section below explains why.
Where it comes from
A naturally occurring mineral (rutile, anatase, brookite) refined for use as a brilliant white pigment since the 1910s. Food-grade material is highly purified and milled to sub-micrometer particle sizes.
How it's used
Historically used in chewing gum coatings, dragees, white candy shells, icing, and pharmaceutical tablet coatings. Provides intense opacity at low loading (0.1–1%). Many EU food manufacturers reformulated to calcium carbonate or rice starch after the 2022 ban.
Safety profile
In 2021 EFSA concluded that food-grade E171 cannot be considered safe due to the potential for genotoxicity from the nanoparticle fraction. The EU banned it as a food additive in 2022 (Regulation 2022/63). Still permitted in the US, UK, Canada, and most other jurisdictions; pharmaceutical use remains exempted.
Physical & chemical properties
Brilliant white powder, insoluble in water and most solvents. Composed primarily of TiO2 with controlled nanoparticle content. Extremely high refractive index gives intense opacity.
Regulation worldwide
BANNED in EU food use since August 2022. Permitted in the US, UK, Canada, and most other countries with food-grade purity specifications.
Educational information only. Not medical or dietary advice.