The ban on titanium dioxide in food is set to take effect in Europe on August 7. The ban will prohibit the use of this additive in foods. That doesn’t necessarily mean the additive is toxic to humans. The European authorities found toxicity studies to be inconclusive, and FDA allows the use titanium dioxide in certain foods as a colorant at restricted levels. According to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), there is not enough data that establishes a maximum amount of TiO2 that someone can safely ingest daily. The European Commission (EC) is responsible for executing laws within the EU.  EU member states have been given a 6-month grace period to phase out this additive and reformulate accordingly. The ban will be effective in each EU member state as well as Northern Ireland.  As of now, the UK has not prohibited titanium dioxide with no indication that it will align with the EU on the status of this additive.

Stay up-to-date on regulations with our gComply Regulatory Database. Schedule a live demo here.

Picture Credit Susanne Kuehne

Posted on 28 July 2022