Titanium dioxide E171: an additive allowed for decades and then banned

Titanium dioxide has been used as a food coloring for decades and was considered one of the most inert additives: it does not dissolve, is not absorbed to any significant degree, and is chemically extremely stable. In 2021, the European agency concluded that it could no longer be considered safe—and this case is worth examining not for the substance itself, but for how such decisions are made.

Why it was needed

E171 is a white pigment with very high opacity. It makes surfaces look opaque white and makes other colors appear brighter against its background.

It was used in confectionery glazes and coatings, chewing gum, dragées, white creams, and also in tablet coatings — the latter is regulated separately from food use.

Its function is purely visual: it provides neither taste nor preservation. This is an important detail for assessment — it is easier to remove a substance that has no technological necessity.

What EFSA concluded

In 2021, the agency concluded that titanium dioxide can no longer be considered safe when used as a food additive.

The key point of the conclusion concerns genotoxicity — the ability to damage genetic material. The panel could not rule out this possibility, and for genotoxicity, it is impossible to establish a safe level of consumption in principle: if an effect is possible, it is assumed to have no threshold.

Pay attention to the wording. It is not "proven that the substance causes a disease," but "a mechanism for which no safe dose exists cannot be ruled out." The difference between these statements is significant, and it explains why the decisions of different countries diverged.

A separate argument was that the material consists of particles, some of which fall into the nanoscale range, and data on such particles proved insufficient.

What happened next

In the EU, the use of E171 in food products was discontinued. In a number of other jurisdictions, regulators did not change their assessments, continuing to consider the substance acceptable provided that purity requirements are met.

This is not a paradox or a sign of someone's dishonesty. Different bodies work with different sets of data and handle uncertainty differently: one system, when data is lacking, tends toward a ban, while another tends toward maintaining the status quo until evidence of harm appears. An analysis of these approaches can be found in the article on standards in different countries.

What it was replaced with

There is no full-fledged replacement with the same opacity, and manufacturers use combinations: calcium carbonate, rice and corn starch, and silicon dioxide. The result is usually less white and less stable, and some products simply changed their appearance.

This is a typical story: an additive that is being removed rarely has an equivalent replacement, and the product changes. The general framework of the discussion is in the article on myths about additives and GMOs.

What to take away from this

1. The status of an additive is not a constant. Authorization can be revoked when new data appears, and this is the normal operation of the system, not a sign that "they were poisoning us before."
2. "Banned in Europe" requires clarification. For some substances, the status is restricted; for others, it is revoked, and these wordings do not coincide.
3. The absence of technological necessity simplifies the decision. It is cheaper to remove a colorant than to remove a preservative.
4. Check the current status. An assessment for each code with a note on its status in the Russian Federation and the EU can be found in the E-additives directory.

Other cases where authorization was revoked or reviewed are analyzed in the articles on potassium bromate, Sudan dyes, and cyclamate and saccharin.

Count it from a photo

Frequently asked questions

Why was titanium dioxide E171 banned?

In 2021, EFSA concluded that the substance can no longer be considered safe as a food additive. The panel could not rule out genotoxicity, and for it, a safe level of consumption cannot be established in principle.

Does this mean that E171 is proven to cause cancer?

No. The conclusion is phrased differently: it is impossible to rule out a mechanism for which no safe dose is assumed. This is not the same as proven harm, which is precisely why the decisions of different countries have diverged.

Where was it used?

As a white pigment with high opacity—in confectionery glazes and coatings, chewing gum, dragées, and white creams. Its function was purely visual: it provided neither flavor nor preservation.

Why is it permitted in other countries?

Regulators work with different datasets and handle uncertainty in different ways: one system tends toward a ban when data is insufficient, while another maintains the status quo until evidence of harm emerges.

What has it been replaced with?

There is no equivalent replacement. Combinations of calcium carbonate, rice and corn starch, and silicon dioxide are used. The result is usually less white and less stable, and some products have changed in appearance.

Read next

• Food dyes: which ones are restricted and why — The color of food carries information: it is used to judge ripeness, freshness, and taste even before the first bite.
• Potassium bromate: a flour improver that is no longer permitted — Potassium bromate was used for decades as a flour improver: it made dough more elastic and bread more voluminous with an even crumb.
• Food standards in different countries: why the same product varies — The same brand in two countries may have a different composition, and this is not always about cost-cutting.

This article is for general information. It is not medical advice, a diagnosis, or a prescription for treatment or a diet, and it does not replace a consultation with your doctor. If you have a health condition, are pregnant, take medication, or follow a diet prescribed to you, decisions about food belong with your doctor.

Figures from regulations, guidelines and studies are given as they stood when this article was prepared and may since have changed; check them against the primary sources. This article is not advertising, an offer, or individual advice, and neither the author nor the site owner is responsible for decisions taken on the basis of it.