NGOs Ask EC to Ban Titanium Dioxide

A nine-strong grouping of health, consumer and environmental organizations have written to European Commission Vice-President, Jyrki Katainen, demanding an EU ban for the food additive titanium dioxide (E 171).

Titanium dioxide is a colorant derived from three main natural minerals: rulite, anatase, and brookite. Most of the baked goods and confectionery contain this chemical. Negative health effects due to the ingestion of TiO2 nanoparticles include damage to the liver, kidneys, testes, brain and heart, the tests on mice and rats revealed.

In April, France decided to ban the use of titanium dioxide as a food additive from 1st January 2020 after the country’s health and safety agency (ANSES) reported a lack of evidence to guarantee the safety of this potentially carcinogenic substance. The French government announced that it would notify the European Commission and other member states of its decision as soon as the text is signed.

However, titanium dioxide market is on the growth, according to Data Bridge Market Research. The Global Titanium Dioxide Market accounted for USD10.53bn in 2016 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.0% during the forecast period of 2017 to 2024.