EFSA: White Food Coloring Chemical Poses No Consumer Health Concerns
The European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA’s) Panel on Additives and Nutrient Sources Added to Food (ANS) recently completed a reevaluation of all food colors permitted for use in the EU before 2009. The agency has concluded that available data do not indicate health concerns for consumers.
In this case, EFSA specifically looked at titanium dioxide (E 171), a chemical often used to whiten or brighten certain foods. Its main food uses are in confectionery, bakery and sauces but it is also found in cosmetics and has many industrial uses. Available toxicological data on titanium dioxide do not indicate adverse effects via oral ingestion. While the ANS Panel was unable to set an ADI for titanium dioxide because of data limitations, using the margin of safety approach, they concluded that dietary exposure does not pose health concerns.