Editing Titanium dioxide (section)

==== Government policies ====
TiO<sub>2</sub> whitener in food was banned in France from 2020, due to uncertainty about safe quantities for human consumption.<ref>{{cite news| title=France to ban titanium dioxide whitener in food from 2020 | publisher=Reuters | date=17 April 2019 | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-food-additive/france-to-ban-titanium-dioxide-whitener-in-food-from-2020-idUSKCN1RT23D/}}</ref>

In 2021, the [[European Food Safety Authority]] (EFSA) ruled that as a consequence of new understandings of [[nanoparticle]]s, titanium dioxide could "no longer be considered safe as a food additive", and the EU health commissioner announced plans to ban its use across the EU, with discussions beginning in June 2021. EFSA concluded that [[genotoxicity]]—which could lead to [[carcinogenic]] effects—could not be ruled out, and that a "safe level for daily intake of the food additive could not be established".<ref>{{cite news |last=Boffey |first=Daniel |title=E171: EU watchdog says food colouring widely used in UK is unsafe |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/06/e171-eu-watchdog-says-food-colouring-widely-used-in-uk-is-unsafe |work=the Guardian |date=6 May 2021 |language=en}}</ref> In 2022, the UK Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland announced their disagreement with the EFSA ruling, and did not follow the EU in banning titanium dioxide as a food additive.<ref>{{cite news| title=UK disagrees with EU position on titanium dioxide | website=Food Safety News | date=9 March 2022 | url=https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2022/03/uk-disagrees-with-eu-position-on-titanium-dioxide/}}</ref> Health Canada similarly reviewed the available evidence in 2022 and decided not to change their position on titanium dioxide as a food additive.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Health Canada | title=Titanium dioxide (TiO2) as a food additive|date=6 April 2023| url=https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/food-nutrition/reports-publications/titanium-dioxide-food-additive-science-report.html}}</ref>

The European Union removed the authorization to use titanium dioxide (E 171) in foods, effective 7 February 2022, with a six months grace period.<ref>[https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32022R0063 'amending Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the food additive titanium dioxide (E 171)']. Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/63, 14 January 2022</ref>

As of May 2023, following the European Union 2022 ban, the U.S. states [[California]] and [[New York (state)|New York]] were considering banning the use of titanium dioxide in foods.<ref name="NJTimesMay2023">{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Dana G. |date=April 13, 2023 |title=Two States Have Proposed Bans on Common Food Additives Linked to Health Concerns |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/13/well/eat/food-additive-ban.html |url-status=live |access-date=November 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231113022102/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/13/well/eat/food-additive-ban.html |archive-date=November 13, 2023}}</ref>

As of 2024, the [[Food and Drug Administration]] (FDA) in the United States permits titanium dioxide as a food additive.<ref name=fda/> It may be used to increase whiteness and opacity in dairy products (some cheeses, ice cream, and yogurt), candies, frostings, fillings, and many other foods. The FDA regulates the labeling of products containing titanium dioxide, allowing the product's ingredients list to identify titanium dioxide either as "color added" or "artificial colors" or "titanium dioxide;" it does not require that titanium dioxide be explicitly named.<ref name=fda/> In 2023, the [[Consumer Healthcare Products Association]], a manufacturer's trade group, defended the substance as safe at certain limits while allowing that additional studies could provide further insight, saying an immediate ban would be a "knee-jerk" reaction.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bedigan |first=Mike |date=2024-06-12 |title=Scientists raise alarm over sunscreen ingredient being found in cakes and candies |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/frozen-pizza-candy-titanium-dioxide-sunscreen-foods-b2561031.html |access-date=2024-06-13 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref>