Ingredient Index · E171

Is Titanium Dioxide banned in Europe?

Banned in EU

Yes: titanium dioxide (E171) has been banned as a food additive in the EU since February 2022, while the FDA still permits it in US food at up to 1% by weight.

E-number: E171CAS: 13463-67-7 Also seen as: TiO2, E171, CI 77891

What the EU does

Banned in food, and recently. Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/63 removed titanium dioxide from the EU's authorized additive list, with the ban applying from February 7, 2022 and a sell-through transition that ended August 7, 2022. The trigger was EFSA's May 2021 opinion, which concluded that E171 "can no longer be considered safe as a food additive" because genotoxicity (the potential to damage DNA) could not be ruled out, particularly for the nanoparticle fraction that accumulates in the body.

Two precision points that most coverage misses. First, EFSA did not find proof of harm; it found that the available data could not exclude it, and the EU default in that situation is removal. Second, the ban covers food only. Titanium dioxide remains permitted in EU cosmetics (as a colorant and UV filter, with restrictions on inhalable forms) and, for now, in medicines.

Citation Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/63; EFSA Journal 2021;19(5):6585

What the US does

Fully legal. The FDA permits titanium dioxide as a color additive in food at up to 1% by weight under 21 CFR 73.575, and has said it disagrees with EFSA's reading of the nanoparticle data. A 2023 petition asking the agency to revoke the authorization is pending. California considered including E171 in its 2023 additive bill (AB 418) and dropped it before passage.

The result is one of the most visible US/EU divergences on the shelf: Mars reformulated Skittles for the European market and continues to sell the titanium-dioxide version in the United States. Same brand, same candy, two formulas.

Citation 21 CFR 73.575 (color additives exempt from certification: titanium dioxide)

Products that commonly contain it

Titanium dioxide is a whitening and opacity agent. In the US it commonly appears in:

Skittles, Starburst, and candy with bright opaque coatings
Chewing gum
Powdered coffee creamers
Frosting, icing, and cake decorations
Ranch dressing and other white sauces
Tablet and capsule coatings, including vitamins

What to look for on a label

Names to scan for, depending on the product type:

"Titanium dioxide" or "titanium dioxide (color)" in US food ingredient lists
"E171" on EU-labeled food made before the 2022 ban, or non-EU imports
"CI 77891", the cosmetics colorant designation (legal in both jurisdictions)
Vague catch-alls like "color added" or "artificial color" can include it; in the US, titanium dioxide may be declared simply as "color"

Or skip the squinting: paste the whole ingredient list into our checker and it flags everything in our database. Nothing you paste leaves your browser.

Frequently asked questions

Is titanium dioxide banned in Europe?

Yes, in food. Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/63 banned E171 as a food additive effective February 7, 2022, after EFSA concluded genotoxicity could not be ruled out. It remains permitted in EU cosmetics and medicines.

Is titanium dioxide legal in the United States?

Yes. The FDA permits it in food at up to 1% by weight under 21 CFR 73.575. A petition to revoke that authorization has been pending since 2023.

Why did the EU ban titanium dioxide in food?

EFSA's 2021 re-evaluation found that titanium dioxide nanoparticles can accumulate in the body and that the potential for DNA damage could not be excluded. Under the EU's precautionary default, an additive that cannot be confirmed safe loses its authorization.

Do Skittles contain titanium dioxide?

In the United States, yes. Mars reformulated Skittles for the EU market after the 2022 ban but continues to use titanium dioxide in the US version.

Related ingredients

Primary sources

Last reviewed June 10, 2026 · How we assign statuses