Titanium Dioxide (E171) — What You Need to Know
The score is an eNumbers.org editorial summary, not an official agency rating or medical advice. Start with the regulatory status and primary sources below.
What Is Titanium Dioxide?
Titanium dioxide is a bright white pigment used to make foods and coatings look whiter and more opaque. It was widely used in confectionery, chewing gum, and candy coatings for decades. However, EFSA concluded in 2021 that titanium dioxide could no longer be considered safe as a food additive after DNA damage concerns emerged from new studies, leading to a ban in the EU from 2022.
What Is It Used For?
Used to whiten and add opacity to candy coatings, chewing gum, frosting, sauces, and some cheeses. Creates the bright white appearance in many confectionery products.
Exposure figures are population-level references, not personal limits. Actual intake varies by diet, product and jurisdiction.
Regulatory & Editorial Context
EU authorisation for titanium dioxide as a food additive was removed in 2022 after EFSA concluded that concern for genotoxicity could not be ruled out.
Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/63 ↗In 2021, EFSA concluded that titanium dioxide (E171) could no longer be considered safe as a food additive because concern for genotoxicity could not be ruled out. EU authorisation for food use was removed in 2022. The United States still permits titanium dioxide as a color additive under specified conditions.
eNumbers.org currently assigns Titanium Dioxide an editorial context label of Avoid with a score of 2/10. This is 3.8 points below the database average for colorings (5.8/10). Dataset reference year: 2021.
This score is not issued by EFSA, FDA, WHO or another regulator.
Commonly Found In
Always check the label for E171 or 'Titanium Dioxide'
▶Chemical Information
Primary Sources
Source review: 2026-08-08Official references relevant to this page. Check the agency record for current permitted uses, limits and jurisdiction-specific wording.
- European Commission: EU Food Additives Database ↗EU authorisations and conditions of use
- WHO / FAO JECFA: JECFA food-additives database ↗International evaluations and acceptable daily intakes
- European Food Safety Authority: Titanium dioxide (E171) safety assessment ↗2021 EFSA conclusion on E171
- European Commission: Food additives in the European Union ↗EU regulatory framework and positive-list rules
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Food Additive Status List ↗U.S. food-ingredient regulatory references
- European Food Safety Authority: Food additives ↗EFSA food-additive safety assessment process
Frequently Asked Questions about Titanium Dioxide
Quick Facts
- E-Number
- E171
- INS Number
- 171
- Category
- Colorings
- Origin
- Synthetic
- FDA Status
- Permitted as a color additive under 21 CFR 73.575, subject to conditions
- EFSA Status
- Banned in EU since August 2022
- ADI
- Not established (safety concern) mg/kg bw/day
- Dataset Review
- 2021
Carriers, processing aids and product certification can change suitability. Verify the final label and certifier.
Related Additives
Other colorings in the same family