Titanium Dioxide will be banned as a food ingredient in the EU beginning of 2022

The European Commission's proposal to ban the use of Titanium Dioxide (E171) as a food additive starting from 2022 was accepted by Member States last week.    

The Commission's recommendation is based on a scientific opinion from EFSA, which found that E171 could no longer be deemed safe when used as a food additive, owing to concerns about genotoxicity. “Taking into account all available scientific studies and data, the Panel concluded that titanium dioxide can no longer be considered safe as a food additive. A critical element in reaching this conclusion is that we could not exclude genotoxicity concerns after consumption of titanium dioxide particles. After oral ingestion, the absorption of titanium dioxide particles is low, however they can accumulate in the body”, stated prof Maged Younes, Chair of EFSA’s expert Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings (FAF), earlier this year.    

Unless either the Council or the European Parliament adopts an objection before the end of the year, the document will come into effect in early 2022. Following then, a 6-month phase-out period will begin, after which a complete ban on food items will be implemented.    

“The safety of our food and the health of our consumers is not negotiable. Today, we act decisively with our Member States, based on sound science, to remove a risk from a chemical used in food”, stated Stella Kyriakides, Commissioner in charge of Health and Food Safety.    

 

Sources:  

https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/news/titanium-dioxide-e171-no-longer-considered-safe-when-used-food-additive  

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/mex_21_5165#5