Even if you’ve never heard of titanium dioxide, there’s a good chance that this additive is somewhere in your kitchen. It’s found in everything from canned soup to trail mix to shredded cheese. While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved titanium dioxide as safe for human consumption in small amounts, it’s banned from foods in Europe , and some research suggests that it might cause health problems at high doses. Here’s what you need to know about titanium dioxide in food.
What Is Titanium Dioxide Used For? Uses Titanium dioxide is a white pigment made from naturally occurring ores (solid minerals or metals). It’s found in a wide variety of consumer products, including sunscreen, cosmetics, paints, and plastics. Manufacturers also add titanium dioxide to foods to make them look whiter and brighter. While it’s most commonly used in candy, it’s also added to foods ranging from salad dressings to frozen pizza.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629926bd5a1-3351-4eb5-94bc-cccc257b2d5e
Is Titanium Dioxide Safe? Safety The FDA says that titanium dioxide is safe to use as a color additive in foods in small amounts. Titanium dioxide can’t make up more than 1 percent by weight of a food it’s used in, according to the FDA.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762905107218-f27f-4b43-af5e-171df25a15fa The World Health Organization also considers titanium dioxide safe for use in foods.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762974678033-d518-4978-8938-bc3db7ff8a3c But titanium dioxide is banned from foods in Europe because of questions about its potential to damage DNA in ways that could cause cancer.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762949abb7b8-3581-422b-a466-3f149f90a0e4 “There is a possibility that the use of titanium dioxide as a food additive might cause DNA or chromosomal damage,” the European Food Safety Authority said in a 2022 statement announcing the ban. “In the European Union, the fact that the safety of a food additive cannot be confirmed is sufficient to warrant a ban.” Cancer questions about titanium dioxide date back to the 1980s, when a study found that inhaling high doses of this chemical caused lung cancer in rats.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976290fde55e5-aba5-4ac6-a825-1e7fbffec068 “For years, scientists have raised concerns about the potential toxicity of titanium dioxide,” says Melanie Benesh, JD , vice president for government affairs at the Environmental Working Group, a consumer advocacy group that has petitioned for a ban. Beyond cancer, a research review a decade ago also raised questions about the possibility that titanium dioxide might accumulate in the body and damage organs, cause inflammation, impair memory and cognitive function, and interfere with metabolism — though all of the studies were done in mice.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762933728647-e840-4e71-a15f-b85365c7b388 Most of the research since then has also involved animals. A 2022 research review of studies to date on the cancer risk in rats concluded that there was only a risk at extremely high exposure levels, and there was no evidence of risk for other animals or humans.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976293da00bf8-52dd-411b-95d1-ac14dced807e “It is important to understand that the dose makes the poison. Most anything taken in excess amounts can have toxicity effects,” says Toby Amidor, RD, CDN , a registered dietitian nutritionist and cookbook author. In the United States, regulators determine what amount of a chemical might be harmful and then set the allowable dose in food 100 times lower than that, Amidor says. “If you really are worried about titanium dioxide in your food, note that many of the foods [it’s used in] like candy, baked goods, and confectioners’ sugar should be consumed sparingly in the diet to begin with,” she adds.
Common Foods and Products That Contain Titanium Dioxide Common Sources You’re most likely to encounter titanium dioxide in packaged and processed foods, Amidor says. It’s in more than 3,000 different products commonly sold in grocery stores, according to the Environmental Working Group, which tests products for specific chemicals and additives. Some of the foods that most often include titanium dioxide, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Branded Foods Database, include:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629a26067db-e4bc-4b0f-818c-f69c7e4d5a43 Candies like Skittles, as well as many brands of peppermints and candy canes Creamy salad dressings from brands like Kroger, Market Pantry, and IGA Chewing gum from brands like Trident and Wrigley’s Ice cream from brands like Mayfield and Blue Bunny Frozen pizzas from brands like Totino’s and DiGiorno Gelatin-based dessert powders like Jell-O Drink mixes from brands like Tang and Great Value Packaged meals from brands like Marie Callender’s and Birds Eye Canned soups like clam chowder and chicken chowder from brands like Progresso and Campbell’s
Other Names for Titanium Dioxide Names The FDA doesn’t require titanium dioxide to be identified by name on food product packaging. It can simply be listed as “artificial color” or not listed at all.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976297a5bf58b-2a37-47de-acb2-a8b64df615d4
How to Limit or Avoid Titanium Dioxide How to Avoid Many packaged foods that may contain titanium dioxide also have alternatives you can buy that are free of this chemical.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629397cadc1-5563-475a-8c00-0d09fe67d903 There are several things you can do to reduce your exposure, Benesh says: Read food labels. Food companies aren’t required to name titanium dioxide as an ingredient, but you may see it listed as “colored with titanium dioxide” or simply “artificial color.” Choose organic packaged foods. Certified organic foods can’t contain artificial colors like titanium dioxide. Avoid ultra-processed foods. Mass produced snack foods and packaged meals are more likely to contain titanium dioxide and other potentially unhealthy ingredients.
The Takeaway Titanium dioxide is safe to eat in small amounts, according to the FDA, but scientists and consumer advocates have raised questions about potential health risks. Most evidence of potential health harm from titanium dioxide is based on studies exposing rodents to extremely high doses. If you’re worried about titanium dioxide in your food, read food labels and look for products that are organic or free of artificial colors.
