Titanium dioxide
Titanium dioxide (E171) is a white pigment once used to brighten sweets, chewing gum, and sauces. In 2021 EFSA concluded it could "no longer be considered safe" as a food additive because a genotoxicity concern could not be ruled out, and the EU banned it in food from 2022.
Titanium dioxide is a bright white mineral pigment (partly composed of nanoparticles) used to whiten and add opacity. It has no nutritional role.
In 2021 EFSA revised its opinion and concluded E171 could no longer be considered safe as a food additive, as concerns about genotoxicity (potential DNA damage) could not be excluded. The EU subsequently banned its use in food from August 2022. It may still appear in non-EU products, medicines, and cosmetics.
On the label
- E-number
- E171
- INS number
- INS 171
- Functional class
- Colour
- Also known as
- Titanium white · CI 77891 · Colour 171 · INS 171
Who this affects
Avoid
- Everyone (EU): Banned as a food additive in the EU since 2022; it should not appear in food sold in the EU.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. The EU withdrew the authorisation of titanium dioxide (E171) as a food additive under Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/63. After a six-month transition it could no longer be used in food produced in the EU from 7 August 2022, though products lawfully on the market before that date could be sold until their date of minimum durability.
In May 2021 the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) concluded that E171 can no longer be considered safe as a food additive. The key reason was that a concern for genotoxicity (potential DNA damage) could not be ruled out, so EFSA could not establish a safe daily intake level. This assessment underpinned the EU decision to remove it from food.
It was used mainly as a white colour and opacifier to make foods look whiter or brighter — commonly in sweets and confectionery, chewing gum, bakery decorations, and white sauces and coatings. In the EU these uses are no longer permitted following the 2022 ban.
Yes. In the US, titanium dioxide remains an approved colour additive for food under FDA regulation 21 CFR 73.575, provided it does not exceed 1% by weight of the food. This differs from the EU, where EFSA could not confirm its safety and it was banned from food in 2022.
The EU ban applies to food only. Regulation (EU) 2022/63 provisionally kept titanium dioxide on the list of additives allowed as a colour in medicines, partly to avoid medicine shortages while alternatives are developed. Non-food uses such as toothpaste, cosmetics and sunscreen are regulated separately and were not covered by the food ban.
There is no authoritative guidance singling out pregnancy. EFSA’s general conclusion is that a genotoxicity concern could not be ruled out and no safe intake level could be set, which is why the EU removed E171 from food. This is a regulatory finding, not medical advice; anyone with specific concerns should check the label and speak to a healthcare professional.
Yes — it contains no animal-derived material. It is a mineral pigment, not an animal or plant product. The same applies to a vegetarian diet.
Yes — the additive itself contains no gluten. A gluten-free claim belongs to the finished product, though — check the pack, not the additive.
It is a mineral pigment, not an animal or plant product and contains no animal-derived material, so the additive itself is not inherently non-halal. Certification applies to a finished product rather than to an additive, so a halal certification mark on the pack is the authoritative signal.
This is the reason E171 was banned. EFSA concluded in 2021 that it could no longer be considered safe as a food additive, because a concern over genotoxicity — damage to genetic material — could not be ruled out and no acceptable daily intake could be set. The EU withdrew its authorisation for food in 2022. It remains permitted in cosmetics and medicines, which are assessed separately.