In October 2021, the European Union approved the proposal of the European Commission to ban the use of titanium dioxide (E171) as a food additive from 2022. Three months later, it has published the regulation which establishes that all foods manufactured with this substance before February 7 – the day on which the regulations come into effect- may be marketed until next August 7. From that date, they can only remain for sale until their expiration date.

This was a long-awaited measure since the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) ruled in May 2021 that E171 could not be considered safe as it could not rule out genotoxicity problems after consuming the particles which compose it.

Remember, titanium dioxide, already banned in France in 2020, is used as a food coloring mainly in confectionery (sweets, chewing gum, and more), bakery, and sauces, and is also present in cosmetics, paints, and medicines.