What Is Titanium Dioxide? Safety, Risks & Alternatives

⚡ Quick Facts

E-NumberE171
FDA StatusFDA-approved (21 CFR 73.575) at levels not exceeding 1% by weight of the food. FDA has not taken action to restrict desp…
EFSA StatusEFSA concluded in May 2021 that E171 could no longer be considered safe, citing inability to rule out genotoxicity of Ti…
ADINo ADI established — EFSA withdrew the previous ADI in 2021
SeverityHigh Risk (8/10)
CategoryWhitening Agent

What Is Titanium Dioxide?

An inorganic white pigment used to provide opacity and bright white color in foods (candies, chewing gum, pastries), toothpaste, and cosmetics.

Mechanism of Action

Nanoparticles of TiO2 can cross the intestinal epithelium. EFSA's 2021 assessment concluded that genotoxicity could not be ruled out due to concerns about accumulation of nanoparticles in tissues over time.

Why People Avoid Titanium Dioxide

Regulatory Status

🇺🇸 FDA

FDA-approved (21 CFR 73.575) at levels not exceeding 1% by weight of the food. FDA has not taken action to restrict despite the EU ban.

🇪🇺 EFSA

EFSA concluded in May 2021 that E171 could no longer be considered safe, citing inability to rule out genotoxicity of TiO2 nanoparticles. EU banned E171 in food effective August 2022 (Commission Regulation EU 2022/63).

Regulatory Timeline

1966 FDA approves for food use
2016 EFSA re-evaluation raises nanoparticle concerns
2021 EFSA concludes E171 can no longer be considered safe
2022 EU bans E171 in food (Regulation EU 2022/63)
• FDA has not followed the EU ban as of 2026

Banned/Restricted In

Banned in: EU (banned 2022)

Restricted in: France (banned 2020)

⚠️ Legal in the United States

📊 Top Categories Containing Titanium Dioxide

Candy 70Savoury Bakery Products 34Snack Cakes 19Cupcakes 19Cakes 19Pizza 12

Products Containing Titanium Dioxide (280 found in our database)

#ProductBrandScore
1ORIGINAL BITE SIZE CANDIES, STRAWBERRY, LEMON, GREEN APPLE, ORANGE, GRAPEWm. Wrigley Jr. Company0/100
2GRAND CHEESECAKE SELECTION, WHITE CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY, SNICKERS BAR CHUNKS, CHOCOLATE MOUSSE, STRAWBERRY TOPPED ORIGINALThe Cheesecake Factory Bakery, Inc.0/100
3SOUR PATCH KIDS SOFT CANDY TROPICAL FAT FREE1X2 OZMondelez USA0/100
4SWEDISH FISH SOFT CANDY TROPICAL FAT FREE1X2 OZMondelez Int. US (0074819091009)0/100
5WILD BERRY BITE SIZE CANDIESMars Chocolate North America LLC0/100
6BITE SIZE CANDIESWm. Wrigley Jr. Company0/100
7ORIGINAL GRAPE, GREEN APPLE, STRAWBERRY, ORANGE, LEMON BITE SIZE CANDIES, ORIGINALMars Chocolate North America LLC0/100
8AMERICA MIX BITE SIZE CANDIES, RUMBERRY, RASPBERRY, STRAWBERRY, BLACKBERRY, WILD BERRYWm. Wrigley Jr. Company0/100
9ORIGINAL BITE SIZE CANDIES, ORIGINALWm. Wrigley Jr. Company0/100
10BITE SIZE CANDIESWm. Wrigley Jr. Company0/100

Showing top 10 of 280 products. Download CheckIt AI to scan any product.

Average safety score for products containing Titanium Dioxide: 40/100

Safer Alternatives


Rice starch

Calcium carbonate

Zinc oxide (non-food applications)

Scientific Sources

  1. EFSA (2021). Safety assessment of titanium dioxide (E171) as a food additive. EFSA Journal, 19(5), 6585
  2. EU Commission Regulation 2022/63 banning E171
  3. Bettini et al. (2017). Food-grade TiO2 impairs intestinal and systemic immune homeostasis. Particle and Fibre Toxicology, 14(1), 38

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Titanium Dioxide?
An inorganic white pigment used to provide opacity and bright white color in foods (candies, chewing gum, pastries), toothpaste, and cosmetics.
Is Titanium Dioxide safe?
Titanium Dioxide is FDA-approved (21 CFR 73.575) at levels not exceeding 1% by weight of the food. FDA has not taken act. EFSA concluded in May 2021 that E171 could no longer be considered safe, citing inability to rule ou.
Where is Titanium Dioxide banned?
Titanium Dioxide is banned or restricted in: EU (banned 2022).
What are alternatives to Titanium Dioxide?
Safer alternatives to Titanium Dioxide include: Rice starch, Calcium carbonate, Zinc oxide (non-food applications).
How can I avoid Titanium Dioxide?
Download CheckIt AI and scan any product's barcode or ingredient label. The app will flag Titanium Dioxide and suggest safer alternatives.
What foods contain Titanium Dioxide?
Titanium Dioxide is commonly found in: Skittles (original formula), Coffee creamer, Chewing gum, White cake frosting, Salad dressing, Toothpaste. Our database has flagged it in 280 products.
What are the side effects of Titanium Dioxide?
Concerns about Titanium Dioxide include: Banned in EU since 2022 due to genotoxicity concerns; EFSA unable to establish a safe ADI; Nanoparticle accumulation concerns.
Is Titanium Dioxide natural or artificial?
Titanium Dioxide: Nanoparticles of TiO2 can cross the intestinal epithelium. EFSA's 2021 assessment concluded that genotoxicity could not be ruled out due to concerns a.
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⚕️ This page provides ingredient information for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional for personalized dietary guidance.

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📋 Cite This Data
APACheckIt AI. (2026). "What Is Titanium Dioxide? Safety, Risks & Alternatives | CheckIt AI". Climaverse PBC. Retrieved from https://getcheck.it/ingredients/titanium-dioxide
MLA"What Is Titanium Dioxide? Safety, Risks & Alternatives | CheckIt AI." CheckIt AI, Climaverse PBC, 2026-03-08. https://getcheck.it/ingredients/titanium-dioxide.
HTML Embed<a href="https://getcheck.it/ingredients/titanium-dioxide">What Is Titanium Dioxide? Safety, Risks & Alternatives | CheckIt AI — CheckIt AI</a>
BibTeX@misc{checkit2026ingredientstitaniumdioxide, title = {What Is Titanium Dioxide? Safety, Risks & Alternatives | CheckIt AI}, author = {CheckIt AI}, year = {2026}, publisher = {Climaverse PBC}, url = {https://getcheck.it/ingredients/titanium-dioxide}, note = {Retrieved 2026-03-08} }
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