Another Consumer Caution: Buyer Beware

"If there was a reason for using the titanium dioxide in food, I would say, 'OK, let's consider it'. But what is the reason? It's purely aesthetic."
Wojciech Chrzanowski, study leader, associate professor, University of Sydney

"In a short period of time, it was already affecting the immune system [in experimental laboratory mice]."
"Titanium dioxide doesn't make you sick, but I believe it does prime your system for disease. If it's safe, we should have proof of that."
"I feel sorry for all the new generations of kids because they will be subject to [titanium dioxide in various food products] from birth."
"The real issue is around regulation. We have no idea how much [of it] we eat."
"Having processed food isn't a big deal, but if we're eating it chronically, I think it is unacceptable."
Laurence Macia, study co-author, associate professor, University of Sydney

"So let's say you see corn starch listed as an ingredient of a food product. If titanium dioxide was used to make the corn starch, they don't need to list it. This will not change with the new food labelling regulations."
"[We would consider making changes to the list of approved additives] should new scientific data become available indicating a possible safety concern for consumers."
Spokesperson, Health Canada

Titanium dioxide, a common food whitener behind the sheen on sweets and the bleach white colour of toothpastes and chewing gums, could open the door to colorectal cancer, colitis and other stomach problems.  Daniel Acker / Bloomberg News

Titanium dioxide is used as a food additive, and considered to function as a colour additive, commonly used as a whitener for a whole host of processed foods. It is considered so inconsequential an ingredient that government health authorities see no need to require manufacturers to list the additive in their published list of ingredients for any product containing the chemical. Yet new research cautions that it may be responsible for colorectal cancer, colitis and allied stomach problems.

The chemical is used in the manufacture of candies, giving them their typical shine; used to bleach toothpastes and chewing gum. In Canada, it is required to be listed as "colour" on the ingredients label, not identified as the chemical titanium dioxide. Professor Chrzanowski and his research team consider such labelling policies concerning, particularly given his team's study identifying the chemical as a possible carcinogen.

 His research team used groups of mice given a regular diet and water with titanium dioxide added for a period of four weeks. Two groups of mice consumed two and ten mg per kg of body weight (rough estimates of how much humans ingest per day) respectively, while a third group was given 50 mg, considered to be a toxic level. In all groups titanium dioxide resulted in the creation of a biofilm shield protecting itself once it entered the large intestine.

The appearance of the biofilm caused a chemical imbalance in the gut linked to colorectal cancer, swelling in the intestines and allied bowel disorders. And while the research stopped short of proving the additive to be dangerous, the  results demonstrated it has a deleterious effect on human bodies. In the United States an earlier 2015 study identified some products with the most titanium dioxide; Mentos Freshmint Gum, Kool-Aid Blue Raspberry, M&Ms Chocolate Candy and Betty Crocker Whipped Cream Frosting.

The American report stressed many of the tested products failed to include the whitener as an ingredient on the product label. M&Ms has promised it would eliminate fake food colours like titanium dioxide from its products by the year 2021. Manufacturers in Canada will be required to list specific food colouring agents like titanium dioxide by December 2021, yet consumers might end up continuing to buy products where they remain unlisted as an ingredient, according to Health Canada.




That children are consuming these products is a matter of concern to the scientists studying food additives, since they represent the most vulnerable demographic in their exposure to titanium dioxide. Queen's University produced research that indicated when pregnant mice consumed a conservative level of titanium dioxide nanoparticles, their babies were born with deformities. Tests conducted on animals may not reflect human effects, however.

It does appear obvious that children whose immune systems are unable to cope with the same amount of exposure to titanium dioxide as adults, should have the benefit of more intensive studies to prove or disprove the harmful effects of this chemical's ubiquity in so many food products. France appears to be taking the initiative, banning titanium dioxide in 2020 in view of no claims to guaranteeing its safety and some studies linking it to obesity and diabetes.

Most food, at it happens, contain many types of additives. Professor Macia pointed out that additives are present everywhere, not just in food, and may be invading the environment contaminating wildlife as well. Most titanium dioxide is actually meant for use as a paint pigment. The chemical finds its way into cosmetics, toothpastes, pharmaceuticals, paper and food. Little wonder it is viewed as ubiquitously invasive.

And just to cap things off, the International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified titanium dioxide as a Group2B carcinogen. This places titanium dioxide clearly in a grouping declaring that it is "possibly carcinogenic to humans".

PART 73 -- LISTING OF COLOR ADDITIVES EXEMPT FROM CERTIFICATION

Subpart A--Foods

Sec. 73.575 Titanium dioxide.

(a) Identity. (1) The color additive titanium dioxide is synthetically prepared TiO2, free from admixture with other substances. (2) Color additive mixtures for food use made with titanium dioxide may contain only those diluents that are suitable and that are listed in this subpart as safe in color additive mixtures for coloring foods, and the following: Silicon dioxide, SiO2 and/or aluminum oxide, Al2 O3, as dispersing aids--not more than 2 percent total. (b) Specifications. Titanium dioxide shall conform to the following specifications: Lead (as Pb), not more than 10 parts per million. Arsenic (as As), not more than 1 part per million. Antimony (as Sb), not more than 2 parts per million. Mercury (as Hg), not more than 1 part per million. Loss on ignition at 800 deg. C. (after drying for 3 hours at 105 deg. C.), not more than 0.5 percent. Water soluble substances, not more than 0.3 percent. Acid soluble substances, not more than 0.5 percent. TiO2, not less than 99.0 percent after drying for 3 hours at 105 deg. C. Lead, arsenic, and antimony shall be determined in the solution obtained by boiling 10 grams of the titanium dioxide for 15 minutes in 50 milliliters of 0.5N hydrochloric acid. (c) Uses and restrictions. The color additive titanium dioxide may be safely used for coloring foods generally, subject to the following restrictions: (1) The quantity of titanium dioxide does not exceed 1 percent by weight of the food. (2) It may not be used to color foods for which standards of identity have been promulgated under section 401 of the act unless added color is authorized by such standards. (d) Labeling. The label of the color additive and any mixtures intended solely or in part for coloring purposes prepared therefrom shall conform to the requirements of 70.25 of this chapter. (e) Exemption from certification. Certification of this color additive is not necessary for the protection of the public health and therefore batches thereof are exempt from the certification requirements of section 721(c) of the act.

TITLE 21--FOOD AND DRUGS

CHAPTER I--FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

SUBCHAPTER A--GENERAL