Titanium dioxide, also known as E171 is an additive very commonly used as a white colourant in food, but also in many other products, e.g., paints, cosmetics, toothpaste, etc. E171 is made of TiO2 (nano)particles that because of their extremely small size can squeeze through natural protective barriers of the human body and constitute a […]
On 8 October 2021, the Standing Committee on Plant, Animal, Food and Feed voted in favour of a proposal submitted by the European Commission to ban food additive E 171 (Titanium dioxide in food) from all applications in food products. The EC proposal followed a scientific assessment published in May by the European Food Safety […]
On 31 May 2021, a group of 4 MEPs from 3 different groups asked the Commission about its intent to propose an EU-wide ban on food additive E171 (titanium dioxide). It is still unclear when the Commission intends to submit such proposal, and when discussions will start in the competent committee (Standing Committee on Plants, […]
On 6 May 2021, The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published its long-awaited safety assessment of titanium dioxide (TiO2) used as a food additive (E171)[1]. The assessment clearly underlines that TiO2 (nano)particles have the potential to induce DNA stand breaks and chromosomal damage – thus, the agency stated that a concern for genotoxicity could not […]
On 7 October 2020, the plenary session of the European Parliament supported two objections opposing two Commission regulation on E171 (Titanium Dioxide in food) and acrylamide. This votes by the EP sends a strong message: consumers must be at the core of all health decisions. For this reason, maximum levels of protection should be applied […]
SAFE welcomes the positive outcome of the vote which occurred yesterday evening and hope that this democratic decision will encourage the Commission to promote a complete removal of titanium dioxide nanoparticles from our food products. On Monday 7 September 2020, a majority of MEPs of the ENVI Committee voted in favour of an objection against […]
Titanium dioxide is often found in commonly-used domestic substances such as paint, sunscreen, and toothpaste. However, the World Health Organisation’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has determined that the chemical is a “possible carcinogen for humans”. In 2017, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) provided an assessment of this substance and proposed classifying all […]
The last few months have seen a growing awareness amongst the general public about the concerning issue of titanium dioxide in food –food addtive E171– with almost 85,000 persons signing a petition supported by SAFE, ECOS and Agir pour l’Environnement to back the French suspension of this food additive. While EU policy makers are still […]
On 17 December 2019, a cross-party coalition of 34 MEPs sent a letter to Health and Food Safety Commissioner Stella Kyriakides to ask for an extension of the French ban on E171 to the reste of the EU. Read more about this here: Articles from EUobserver, Agence Europe (full article here), Agrifoodtoday.it and IEG Policy. […]
On 5 Dec 2019, European civil society groups have sent a joint letter to Ms. Stella Kyriakides – European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety on the issue of the white colourant E171 (titanium dioxide in food). With this letter, SAFE together with 7 other NGOs strongly urge Ms. Stella Kyriakides, in her lead role […]