Titanium dioxide
Also known as: E171, CI 77891, TiO2
Varies by use. The concern our method flags differs by product type and market — see the per-use verdicts below.
By NordicScan Evidence Engine · generated from structured evidence records · source spans verified by automated gates · Reviewed 2026-07-08 · Evidence snapshot geo-wave1-evidence-snapshot-2026-07-08 · Scoring engine det_v3 · how we score.
What it is
Titanium dioxide is a bright-white mineral pigment used to colour foods, toothpaste, tablets and many cosmetics, and as a mineral UV filter in sunscreens. On labels it appears as E171 (food) or CI 77891 (cosmetics).
Why people ask
Shoppers ask what E171 is and why the EU and the United States now handle it so differently in food, and whether the cosmetic form follows the same rules.
What our method flags — by use
Food · EU
In EU food, our method rates titanium dioxide as higher-concern: the EU withdrew its food-additive authorisation after EFSA could no longer set an acceptable intake.
The EU restricted titanium dioxide (E171) as a food additive: following EFSA's 2021 opinion, Regulation (EU) 2022/63 removed it from the list of authorised food additives (a binding EU action; food domain).
| Authority / source | Finding (our paraphrase) | Evidence tier | Date | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Commission | The EU restricted titanium dioxide (E171) as a food additive: following EFSA's 2021 opinion, Regulation (EU) 2022/63 removed it from the list of authorised food additives (a binding EU action; food domain). | authority_regulatory | 2022-01-14 | source |
| EFSA | EFSA (2021) flagged by re-evaluation that an acceptable daily intake for E171 could no longer be established because a concern for genotoxicity could not be excluded. | authority_regulatory | 2021-05-06 | source |
Evidence coverage for this use: Fair (computed from source count × authority tier × recency; signals depth, does not change the concern band).
Food · US
In US food, our method rates titanium dioxide as moderate-concern: it stays a listed colour additive, but our method carries the same genotoxicity question the EU acted on.
In the United States, titanium dioxide remains listed as a colour additive for food under 21 CFR 73.575 (a US regulatory status that differs from the EU).
| Authority / source | Finding (our paraphrase) | Evidence tier | Date | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US FDA | In the United States, titanium dioxide remains listed as a colour additive for food under 21 CFR 73.575 (a US regulatory status that differs from the EU). | authority_regulatory | 2024-01-01 | source |
Evidence coverage for this use: Limited (computed from source count × authority tier × recency; signals depth, does not change the concern band).
Cosmetic · EU
In cosmetics, our method rates titanium dioxide as moderate-concern, driven by the inhalable-powder question rather than skin contact in creams.
In the EU, titanium dioxide is listed for cosmetic use as a colorant and UV filter, with restrictions on inhalable powder and aerosol forms under Regulation (EC) 1223/2009.
| Authority / source | Finding (our paraphrase) | Evidence tier | Date | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Commission — CosIng | In the EU, titanium dioxide is listed for cosmetic use as a colorant and UV filter, with restrictions on inhalable powder and aerosol forms under Regulation (EC) 1223/2009. | authority_regulatory | 2021-10-01 | source |
| WHO / IARC | IARC classified titanium dioxide as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B) on the basis of inhalation of the powder — a hazard classification, not an exposure-specific verdict for finished creams. | authority_regulatory | 2010-01-01 | source |
Evidence coverage for this use: Fair (computed from source count × authority tier × recency; signals depth, does not change the concern band).
How this moves a product’s score
On a product's score, titanium dioxide contributes a concern signal that our method weights most heavily for EU food, less for US food, and separately for cosmetics — so the same pigment can move two products' scores by different amounts depending on type and market.
Common questions
- Is E171 the same thing in food and cosmetics?
- It is the same pigment, but regulators handle the food additive (E171) and the cosmetic colorant (CI 77891) under separate rules, which is why our method reports them as separate uses above.
- Why does the EU verdict differ from the US one?
- The EU removed the food-additive authorisation after its 2021 opinion, while the US still lists it for food — a genuine difference in regulatory status, shown per market in the evidence above.
Reviewed 2026-07-08 · Evidence snapshot geo-wave1-evidence-snapshot-2026-07-08 · Scoring engine det_v3 · Sources checked 2026-07-08 · See how we score.