Understanding Titanium Dioxide Regulations

Titanium dioxide food additive (TiO2) has been approved as a food additive across the globe for many years. While its status is mainly unchanged, the use of TiO2 in food has changed in Europe.

Following a request by the European Commission in 2020, scientific experts at EFSA (The European Food Safety Authority) performed an updated evaluation on the safety of TiO2 where they determined the chemical is no longer considered safe for use as a food additive. The study was published in 2021 and it follows a previous assessment that was published in 2016 where EFSA highlighted the need for more research. Following the 2021 study, the European Commission has banned the use of titanium dioxide as a food additive in all of Europe.

Meanwhile, other international regulatory agencies across the globe are at odds with EFSA’s findings. For example, the USA FDA (Food and Drug Agency) posted a statement earlier this year where they reaffirmed the safety of TiO2 in food. A similar position has been taken by the United Kingdom’s Food Standards Agency, Health Canada, and Food Standards Australia New Zealand. In their statement, the FDA noted that they did not identify concerns to potential genotoxicity based on available data. As such, the specifications and use conditions listed in the FDA’s 21CFR will remain unchanged.

Products that are registered under NSF’s Nonfood Compounds program may contain TiO2 based on the acceptability criteria within 21 CFR titanium dioxide regulations. The ban in Europe will not impact the evaluation for nonfood compounds.