Titanium dioxide discord as Canada “safe to consume” TiO2 decision clashes with EU ban

28 Jun 2022 --- Following a ruling in Canada stating titanium dioxide used in food is safe, the Titanium Dioxide Manufacturers Association (TDMA) urges a complete review of using TiO2 in the EU, where it is deemed unsafe. The EU ban started with a six-month phasing-out period from February 7, 2022, until August 7, 2022.

TiO2 is an artificial whitening colorant used in foods but was deemed not safe by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in May 2021.

The EU ban came into force at the beginning of 2022 and manufacturers were given six months to comply which means there should be no products containing titanium dioxide by this August.

Following Canada's ruling, TDMA urges the European Commission (EC) to “trigger a critical re-examination of the EFSA 2021 opinion on the safety of E171”. E171 is the label of TiO2 in the EU.

“The methods and test materials relied on in the 2021 opinion do not reflect realistic human exposure to food containing E171, nor are they representative of E171 properties. The 2021 EFSA opinion was also the result of an unusual and inconsistent application of new nanoparticles guidance,” David Lockley, chair of TDMA’s scientific taskforce, tells FoodIngredientsFirst.

“The state of the science report highlights a need for the EU authorities to ask for an update of the EFSA’s opinion on E171 to ensure that the EU’s position is based on all available data.”

TiO2 is used as a color in the nutrition industry, including as an opacifier in capsules. It is employed in soups, sauces, sandwich spreads and processed nut products, among others. It can also be applied in candy, chewing gum, cake icing and white sauces.

TiO2 is used as a colorant in the food, nutrition and cosmetic industries.EU: TiO2 “not safe”
The EU deemed TiO2 as “not safe”, a decision that was met without any objections by the European Parliament or the Council of the EU.

“The conclusions of the Canadian Health authorities and the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) should also be considered by the European Commission in any assessment of the continued use of TiO2 ” explains the TDMA. 

“This is based on a review of the available scientific data relevant to food uses of TiO2.”

As the TDMA mentions, UK health authorities dismissed the EU concerns on the additive this March, declining to ban it. However, the UK health authorities have not concluded their risk assessments which they expect to finish in 2023.

Luigi Tozzi, deputy manager of Safe Food Advocacy Europe (SAFE), tells FoodIngredientsFirst he is not surprised by the Health Canada study.

“Canada still allows the use of growth hormones to produce meat, which we banned in 1996. They are also big users of glyphosate, which in Europe, while not banned, is not accepted by consumers. Their method of analyzing the risk to human health is obviously different from Europe’s, and perhaps so is their consumers’ perception of the danger.”

Different methodologies 
The health authorities of Canada affirm that studies on health concerns, including the genotoxicity of TiO2 – genotoxicity referring to the ability of chemicals to directly damage the DNA – were carried out.

“Many studies that raised concern about the safety of TiO2, including the concern for genotoxicity, used forms of TiO2 that are not considered acceptable for use in food and have different properties than food-grade TiO2. Other studies used food-grade TiO2 but took steps to break the material down into smaller particles than what would normally be found in food,” says the health report.

The Canadian health authorities also reveal that the toxicity of TiO2 may be “reduced” when it is part of a diet as it binds to proteins and molecules. 

“This binding alters the physical and chemical properties of the particles, which influences how they interact with cells, tissues and organs.”

The health authorities also explain that adverse effects were found in a few non-dietary studies. However, in dietary ones, “these same effects were not seen when the same or higher doses of food-grade TiO2 were administered in the animals’ diet.”The Canadian health authorities have released this report one month before the EU ban on TiO2 comes into effect.

In conclusion, according to the Canadian Health authorities, animal studies found no evidence of cancer, DNA changes or adverse effects on reproduction, development, immune, gastrointestinal, nervous health or general health.

Different conclusions
The scientific report explains that the EU panel “did not identify an immediate health concern linked to TiO2 when used as a food additive.”

“However, due mainly to uncertainties concerning the safety of TiO2 nanoparticles, the panel concluded that TiO2 as a food additive (E171) could no longer be considered safe.”

  SAFE says that they agree with the EU precautionary principle toward TiO2 “until there are epidemiological studies on the dangers of this additive.”

“Titanium dioxide is used in its nanoparticle form. The dangers due to the use of these forms are not well defined, although there are many concerns and scientific data that cause one to use precaution,” defends Tozzi. 

“The amended regulation will come into force in August and it is based on the precautionary principle. There are numerous scientific studies on the use of titanium dioxide as a potential pesticide against the plant pest fusarium. So we hope that this decision will never be changed in the EU,” he continues.

By Marc Cervera