E171 / Colours
Titanium dioxide
Safety in brief
Better avoided
Recorded EatMatrix rating, not a new clinical review. The amount, your sensitivities and country rules still matter.
EU food-use restriction: Titanium dioxide is not authorised in the food categories listed in Parts D and E. The entry is retained because of its use in medicinal products; that is not a food-use permission. Read the rule.
- Watch for
- No allergen or sensitivity is recorded for this ingredient here. Check the whole product label; this is not an allergen-free guarantee.
- Our advice
- Read the whole food label and consider how often you eat the product. A name or E number does not tell you the amount, and an ingredient rating cannot assess the entire food.
What it is
Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) is a white pigment used historically to brighten and whiten foods, coatings, plastics, and cosmetics, and as a physical UV filter in sunscreens. Following a 2021 safety reassessment, EFSA concluded it could no longer be considered safe as a food additive due to concerns about genotoxicity (potential to damage DNA) that could not be ruled out, particularly regarding nanoparticle-sized fractions; as a result, the EU banned E171 as a food additive in 2022. The FDA in the United States has not banned it and continues to permit it in food, a position that has drawn criticism and legal challenges. It remains permitted for use in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals in most jurisdictions.
Also appears on labels as: Titanium dioxide, TiO2, Food grade titanium dioxide, E171, E 171, E-171, INS 171, Titanium(IV) oxide, Titanium white, Titanium dioxide powder, Titanium dioxide solution, Additivo alimentare E171.
Dietary information
- Vegan
- Yes
- Halal
- Yes
- Gluten-free
- Yes
- Allergens
- None recorded
Recorded ingredient information. Check the product label or certification: sources, other ingredients and cross-contact can vary.
Research & body effects
Health notes from our ingredient record
- Banned as a food additive in the EU (since 2022) following an EFSA safety reassessment that could not rule out genotoxicity concerns.
- Still permitted in food in the United States, Canada, and some other countries, creating a real regulatory divergence — presence in a product may depend on where it was made or sold.
- Concerns are specifically associated with nanoparticle-sized fractions of the material; typical bulk pigment forms have a more established safety record in non-food (cosmetic) applications.
Other references from our ingredient record
These links come from the original ingredient record. They are separate from the source reviews above and have not all been checked for the exact ingredient, amount consumed or claim. Dates are shown newest first.
- Safety assessment of titanium dioxide (E171) as a food additive — EFSA FAF Panel, EFSA Journal (2021). EFSA 2021: E171 can no longer be considered safe as a food additive due to genotoxicity concerns; no safe threshold established. EU banned E171 via Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/63 with a 6-month phase-out ending 2022-08-07.[dangerous]
- Re-evaluation of titanium dioxide (E 171) as a food additive — EFSA Panel on Food Additives, EFSA Journal (2016). Official EFSA scientific opinion (bibliographic reference, imported 2026-10-13). It covers the additive as a group assessment and is not an individual human study; read the opinion for its findings.
Country rules
Country checks for E171
Permission depends on the market, type of food, amount and conditions. A scientific opinion or an E-number alone does not establish a legal use. These checks are separate from the stored EatMatrix rating.
EU food-use restriction: Titanium dioxide is not authorised in the food categories listed in Parts D and E. The entry is retained because of its use in medicinal products; that is not a food-use permission. Read the dated EU list and footnote.
Compare all eight markets and their sources
| Market | What is checked |
|---|---|
| European Union | Regulation (EC) 1333/2008, Annex II Part B, version , contains the exact code E171: Titanium dioxide. Titanium dioxide is not authorised in the food categories listed in Parts D and E. The entry is retained because of its use in medicinal products; that is not a food-use permission. Listing alone does not allow every food use. Part E food categories, limits, specifications and applicable later acts still need a product-specific check. Source read: . EU food authorisation was withdrawn under Regulation (EU) 2022/63. The phase-out ended on 7 August 2022; foods already placed on the market under the transition may remain until their minimum durability or use-by date. This food rule does not establish the status of medicines. |
| Great Britain | The FSA register record for E171 (Titanium dioxide) lists “Authorised” in England, Scotland and Wales. Register updated: 01 April 2025; record checked: . Food-specific conditions and specifications still need a separate legal check. |
| United States | Complete current-use review pending. Any scoped provision in the label guide above applies only to the stated use. FDA explains the applicable food-additive and GRAS framework. |
| Northern Ireland | The FSA guidance published 25 June 2026 says E171 may not be used in food manufacturing in Northern Ireland after 7 August 2022. Transition foods may remain until their minimum durability or use-by date. GB-authorised goods containing E171 may move through the Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme; the scheme and product conditions need a separate check. Guidance checked on 2026-10-07. |
| Canada | Named food-use records located. Health Canada lists the preparations below for specified foods and purposes. This is conditional permission for those uses, not approval of every product or a personal safety verdict. Only the named records and conditions below were located. Exact composition and specifications still need matching. Source tables captured . List publication dates are shown separately. Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) is a condition of use, not an unlimited amount or a recommended intake. Food and Drug Regulations B.16.003 requires the listed source, purpose, amount and other conditions to match. The official consolidation read was current to 21 September 2026; product specifications and applicable later changes still need checking. Read 4 listed food-use conditionsTitanium DioxideHealth Canada: List of Permitted Food Colours. List published ; item T.2.
EatMatrix reading: match the exact preparation and food first. A manufacturing limit is not an acceptable daily intake (ADI). A label without the amount cannot establish exposure, and an unlisted name here does not establish a ban. |
| Australia | Review pending. Food Standards Code permissions and conditions need an additive-specific check. FSANZ food-additive rules is a starting source, not a verified permission for this entry. |
| New Zealand | Review pending. Food Standards Code permissions and conditions need an additive-specific check. FSANZ food-additive rules is a starting source, not a verified permission for this entry. |
| Japan | Review pending. The relevant list, identity and use standards need an additive-specific check. CAA food-additive lists is a starting source, not a verified permission for this entry. |
Sources & review status
Check what each source covers: an authority’s conclusion, a research finding and a country’s legal permission answer different questions.
What this guide covers
- Official assessment sources
- Commission-listed EFSA references for E171. Bibliographic identity checked; latest findings and current use rules need separate review.
- Original ingredient record
- 2 research links; newest recorded date: . Sources added separately to this guide are not included in this count.
This guide brings together our ingredient record and the dated sources shown here. Missing information describes a gap in this guide; it does not mean an ingredient is untested, safe or harmful. This is not a complete review of every study, preparation or current country rule. The amount in a product and how it is used still matter.
How to read the ratings, research and country checksAgency labels recorded by EatMatrix
These are imported database classifications, not verified current statements from each authority. Use the dated official sources below for their actual scope and conclusions.
| Authority | Database label |
|---|---|
| FDA | Safe |
| WHO | Safe |
| EFSA | Better avoided |
| FSANZ | Safe |
| Japan | Safe |
| UK FSA | Better avoided |
| Health Canada | Safe |
Official assessment sources for E171
The European Commission’s re-evaluation table lists official EFSA documents for this additive. Their identifiers and subjects were checked against publisher bibliographic records. A missing research link in the EatMatrix database does not mean the additive has never been assessed.
Name in the Commission table: Titanium dioxide.
- Safety assessment of titanium dioxide (E171) as a food additive
EFSA scientific opinion. Published: . 2021 update of the 2016 food-additive assessment.
- Re-evaluation of titanium dioxide (E 171) as a food additive
EFSA scientific opinion. Published: .
These are assessment references, including historical or group assessments. They do not establish the latest scientific conclusion, a human health benefit or risk, or current permission to use the additive in a particular food. Later assessments, corrections and food-use conditions need separate review. The recorded EatMatrix rating above is unchanged.
European Commission re-evaluation table, status as of . EatMatrix checked this bibliography on .
Database updated: . What does an E number mean on a food label?
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
What is EatMatrix's recorded rating for E171?
The recorded EatMatrix rating for E171 (Titanium dioxide) is “Better avoided”. It is calculated from labels stored in our ingredient database. These labels are not verified current regulator decisions or country permissions. A database update date is not a scientific review date.
Is E171 vegan, halal or gluten-free?
According to our ingredient data for Titanium dioxide — vegan: yes, vegetarian: yes, halal: yes, kosher: yes, gluten-free: yes, dairy-free: yes. Manufacturing sources can vary between products; check the label if it matters to you.
What is E171 and why is it used?
Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) is a white pigment used historically to brighten and whiten foods, coatings, plastics, and cosmetics, and as a physical UV filter in sunscreens. Following a 2021 safety reassessment, EFSA concluded it could no longer be considered safe as a food additive due to concerns about genotoxicity (potential to damage DNA) that could not be ruled out, particularly regarding nanoparticle-sized fractions; as a result, the EU banned E171 as a food additive in 2022. The FDA in the United States has not banned it and continues to permit it in food, a position that has drawn criticism and legal challenges. It remains permitted for use in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals in most jurisdictions.
Does E171 contain allergens?
No known allergens are recorded for Titanium dioxide.
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This page shows information and classifications recorded in our ingredient database. Current scientific and market-specific verification remains pending as described above. It is general information, not medical advice.