El titanium dioxide (E171) is a additive food used in industry as dye. The foods that contain it are chewing gum, cakes, soups, broths and food supplements, among others. last month of October la European Union prohibited the use of this additive. Thus, the proposal of the European Commission.
The reason for the request was the clarity of the scientific opinion of the EFSA (European Food Safety Authority). Thus, he concluded that the E171 could no longer be considered safe when used as food additive. In particular, because concerns regarding the genotoxicity. The seriousness of this fact lies in the fact that the genotoxicity, as its name suggests, is the ability of certain substances to directly or indirectly damage the DNA and chromosomes of cells.
The safety of our food and the health of our consumers is non-negotiable. Today, we act decisively with our Member States, based on sound science, to eliminate the risk of a chemical used in food. Stella Kyriaks, Health and Food Safety.
Titanium Dioxide Ban Regulation
It was still pending that the Council or Parliament European no objections will be adopted before the end of the year. But it has not been that way. It has already been published in Official Journal of the European Union the regulation of the prohibition of titanium dioxide. This will come into force 20 days later. It has been established a transition period to progressively but definitively eliminate this additive from the market. Thus, it was allowed to manufacture and market foods containing the E171 to the past 7 February.
Until the next 7 August These foods can only be on the supermarket shelves until the expiration date. However, despite its detrimental effects, the need for the titanium dioxide continue or not in the list of food additives of the EU. The reason is to be able to use it exclusively as a food coloring. However, the European Medicines Agency.
