Should You Consume Titanium Dioxide? You Decide
The candy Skittles made recent news in July of 2022, after a man in California filed a class-action lawsuit against the Mars company for using titanium dioxide, a “known toxin”, stating that it makes the candy unfit for human consumption. In 2016, Mars itself had publicly announced that it would be phasing this chemical out of its products. Titanium dioxide is a pigment that has long been used in the food, make-up and personal care industries. It creates more brightness to color by acting as a first layer primer of white opacity. Kind of like painting your walls, only in this case applied to the food that you eat.
France banned the chemical in food in 2020. The European Union has made a commitment to phasing it out in 2022. On the other hand, the US and Canada have determined it is a safe chemical. Research out of the European Union is inconclusive, but indication from animal studies have prompted European countries to act out of caution. The study from the EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), based on results from hundreds of studies, concluded that the additive may damage DNA, causing cell mutations.
Researchers also found that titanium dioxide does not simply pass through the body, rather, the additive can be absorbed into the bloodstream via the intestines and accumulate in certain organs, potentially damaging the spleen, liver, kidneys and colon.
As a senior scientist from the Netherlands National Institute for Public Health and the Environment has noted, “saying we’re not certain that it’s safe is very different from saying it’s unsafe.” Read more about the “Great Detox” in the European Union.
Bottom line: given the potential negative associations linking titanium dioxide to negative health outcomes, why not at least limit consumption? Potentially, titanium dioxide poses a risk especially to children who are still developing and are more affected by chemicals which could disrupt their DNA.
Titanium dioxide is everywhere, from candy and sweets including Skittles, Starbursts, Jell-O and Sour Patch Kids to chewing gum, coffee creamers and cake decorations.
As a side note, Petco banned titanium dioxide and many other chemicals from its shelves in 2019 deeming that these additives do not meet their nutritional standards for our furry four-leggeds. Good to know.
Eating foods containing artificial additives and chemicals is a choice. Knowing about what’s really in our food can be motivating to eat more of the real stuff. Looking for a snack? Next time you’re thinking about color in food, remember the power of blueberries, blackberries and raspberries. Together with pomegranate, these berries are known to have the highest concentration of antioxidants, which may help reduce disease risk and inflammation. Darkly-pigmented fruits and vegetables in general are excellent sources of these antioxidants. Weather fresh or frozen, enjoy those berries.