Titanium dioxide in food and sunscreen linked to DNA damage, no longer deemed safe
This is an editorial summary of research originally reported by European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). ProductSafer does not claim ownership of the underlying research. All intellectual property belongs to the original publishers.
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Titanium dioxide, a common ingredient in sunscreens and foods, can accumulate in your organs and damage DNA according to a major safety review. The European Food Safety Authority has ruled the additive is no longer safe for food use based on this research. You may want to check product labels if you're concerned about limiting your exposure to this ingredient.
Titanium dioxide (TiO₂), listed as E171 in food products and used as a whitening agent and UV filter in sunscreens, has been flagged by regulators following mounting scientific evidence.
In 2021, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) issued a landmark opinion stating that titanium dioxide can no longer be considered safe as a food additive. The key concern: nano-sized particles of titanium dioxide can cross the gut barrier, accumulate in organs including the liver, spleen, and kidneys, and cause genotoxicity, meaning they can damage DNA.
- Chewing gum (Mentos, Trident)
- Candy coatings (Skittles removed it in the US in 2023 following lawsuits)
- Salad dressings and mayonnaise
- Sunscreens and cosmetics
- Toothpaste
For topical sunscreens, the evidence is less clear since skin absorption is limited for larger particles. However, spray sunscreens raise inhalation risks for nano-TiO₂.
- Read ingredient labels and avoid products listing "titanium dioxide" or "E171"
- Choose mineral sunscreens that clearly state "non-nano" zinc oxide
- The EU banned E171 in food products in 2022, the US has not yet followed suit
What you can doAI-generated
- ✓Check the ingredient labels on chewing gum, candy, salad dressings, and mayonnaise you regularly buy, and switch to brands that don't list titanium dioxide or E171.
- ✓Look at your sunscreen bottle and choose mineral sunscreens that explicitly state "non-nano zinc oxide" or "non-nano titanium dioxide" instead of spray formulas, which carry inhalation risks for nano-sized particles.
- ✓Review your toothpaste ingredients and select a brand without titanium dioxide, since this product goes into your mouth daily where particles could potentially cross the gut barrier.
- ✓If you use spray sunscreen, replace it with a lotion or cream formulation to avoid inhaling titanium dioxide nanoparticles into your lungs.
Always consult a healthcare professional for personal medical advice.
Safer alternatives
Shop non-nano zinc oxide sunscreens without titanium dioxide
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