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Titanium dioxide, unknown in food safety

There is increasing awareness of the ingredients that make up the food we eat. In the end, our diet is a fundamental part of our health. In that sense and in order to continue discovering which compounds are beneficial or not, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published new information on the titanium dioxide -also known as E171, which is a food coloring-. The European entity points out that, as an additive, it cannot continue to be considered safe. Why? Let's find out!

What is titanium dioxide?

Before getting into the subject, what is titanium dioxide? As we have said, it can also be called E171, and it is a food coloring. The truth is that, in addition to being present in the kitchen, it can also be found in other products, such as some cosmetics or medicines. In any case, its main function is to show the food in which it is present in a more attractive way for the consumer.

titanium dioxide
Titanium dioxide is found in foods like gum

It is authorized as a food additive by the European Union. However, following its 2016 assessment, it was decided reevaluate the compound, to confirm its security. In fact, there has been a debate in Europe for several years about whether it should be used in food or not. France, for example, from the French Agency for Food, Environment and Occupational Health Safety (ANSES), wanted to ban this product as its health risks were not known with certainty.

Carbon dioxide, on the tightrope

It was at the request of the European Commission (EC) that the EFSA it revisited the evaluation that had already been carried out in 2016 and that specified, according to the same EFSA, "the need to carry out more research to fill the data gaps". This has been how the risk of consuming has been updated titanium dioxide as a food additive. In fact, the professor Maged Younes, Chairman of the EFSA panel of experts on food additives and flavorings (FAF) has clarified the reason for this news.

"A critical element in reaching this conclusion is that we could not exclude genotoxicity problems after the consumption of titanium dioxide particles," he explained. It is important to note that, although it is not a danger as such, “after oral ingestion, the absorption of titanium dioxide particles is low, but they can accumulate in the body ”.

Earlier we mentioned a slightly more technical concept: genotoxicity. And what is genotoxicity? It is, in the words of the European entity, "the ability of a chemical substance to damage DNA, the genetic material of cells." It is important to know the genotoxic level of a substance, because in some cases it can increase the risk of suffering certain pathologies.

Regarding the E171, the tests were not entirely conclusive, so "we could not rule out concern about genotoxicity and consequently we could not establish a safe level for daily intake of the food additive." Knowing this, the Member States of the European Union will be able to carefully study the most appropriate measures to be able to establish a Acceptable Daily Intake -GOING-.

What foods contain E171?

After learning that this compound is no longer considered safe as food additive, the first question that arises is: and what foods contain titanium dioxide? Mainly, it is found in fine bakery products, sauces, treats and gum. The question, then, is: does EFSA recommend stopping eating these foods? Not strictly, but according to their statements it is clear that the less you consume these types of products, the better.

Several experts on the subject have spoken about this news. Among them, Miguel Ángel Lurueña, doctor in Food Science and Technology, who has explained to perfection what exactly it means that the titanium dioxide is no longer considered safe.

Be that as it may, the idea is to understand that, knowing the information that EFSA has made available to us, the consumption of these foods is regulated, in order to eliminate a compound such as titanium dioxide. Are you going to stop eating the products mentioned above that contain said dye? 

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