Increased severity of ulcerative colitis

In June 2022, Health Canada weighed in on the debate, releasing a report on the safety of titanium dioxide. Their expert panel reviewed toxicity studies, including ones involving genetic damage. The expert panel found that previous studies used different forms and properties of titanium dioxide and deliberately broke the material into smaller particles than what you would normally see in food.

Titanium dioxide is one of the many oxides formed naturally in our environment. Manufacturers source this mined mineral from rutile, brookite, and anatase. It is then processed and refined to meet stringent safety guidelines based on the end-use for the mineral. 

Scattering Power of TiO2 and Pigment Volume Concentration

What exactly is titanium dioxide?

Both calcium carbonate and titanium dioxide play crucial roles in various industries, but they are used for different purposes. Calcium carbonate is primarily used as a filler and pigment, while titanium dioxide is used as a whitening agent and pigment. Additionally, titanium dioxide is more expensive to produce than calcium carbonate due to its synthetic nature and complex manufacturing process.

Let’s break the risk down further.  

Titanium dioxide, a naturally occurring oxide of titanium, is widely recognized for its exceptional properties and versatility in various industries. Among its numerous applications, the production of tires stands out as a crucial area where titanium dioxide plays an indispensable role. This article aims to explore the significance of wholesale titanium dioxide in the tire manufacturing sector, emphasizing its properties, benefits, and the overall impact on product quality.

Food safety experts in the European Union (EU) have recently updated their safety assessment of TiO₂ as a food additive. In Europe, TiO₂ is referred to as E171, in accordance with European labelling requirements for food additives. The EU expert panel took into account toxicity studies of TiO₂ nanoparticles, which to this point had not been considered relevant to the safety assessment of TiO₂ as a food additive.  

Titanium dioxide is an insoluble mineral, meaning it cannot dissolve in water. Known for its bright, white pigment, manufacturers use titanium dioxide in many different capacities, including in cosmetics, foods, and drugs. 

Scientists analyzed research that examined how titanium dioxide nanoparticles interact with the brain for a 2015 review published in Nanoscale Research Letters. The researchers wrote: “Once the TiO2 NPs are translocated into the central nervous system through [certain] pathways, they may accumulate in the brain regions. For their slow elimination rates, those NPs could remain in the brain zones for a long period, and the Ti contents would gradually increase with repeated exposure.” After reviewing dozens of studies, the scientists concluded: “Long-term or chronic exposure to TiO2 nanoparticles could potentially lead to the gradually increased Ti contents in the brain, which may eventually induce impairments on the neurons and glial cells and lead to CNS dysfunction as a consequence.”

What other candies and food contain titanium dioxide?