Faber argued there hasn't been enough change in these federal regulations in the decades following the FDA's approval of titanium dioxide – especially as others increasingly point to potential health consequences.

6.0-8.0

Abstract

A safety review conducted by the EFSA in 2021 assessed thousands of studies published on titanium dioxide.

It is opaque and glossy, and provides bright whiteness with blue undertones.

Key Applications

Total zinc and barium sulphate

Overall, the Food Directorate's comprehensive review of the available science of TiO₂ as a food additive showed:

It is opaque and glossy, and provides bright whiteness with blue undertones.

The FDA first approved the use of titanium dioxide in food in 1966, following its 1960 removal (along with the removal of other color additives) from the agency's original Generally Recognized as Safe list. In 1977, titanium dioxide joined the list of color additives that are exempt from certification, which means titanium dioxide doesn't have to be listed on the packaging of every product it's used in, Faber noted.

Promotion of obesity-related metabolic disorders

Some websites maintain titanium dioxide is inferior to zinc oxide, another mineral sunscreen ingredient whose core characteristics are similar to those of titanium dioxide. The reality is that titanium dioxide is a great broad-spectrum SPF ingredient and is widely used in all manner of sun-protection products. What gets confusing for some consumers is trying to decipher research that ranks sunscreen ingredients by a UV spectrum graph. By most standards, broad-spectrum coverage for sunscreen ingredients is defined as one that surpasses 360 nanometers (abbreviated as “nm” - how the sun’s rays are measured). Titanium dioxide exceeds this range of protection, but depending on whose research you read, it either performs as well as or slightly below zinc oxide.

The committee could not finalize the assessment of some other flavoring agents, requiring further information. JECFA highlighted the importance of receiving complete data submissions from the sponsors for conducting the safety evaluation.

Titanium is a common metal element frequently found throughout nature. In our environment, titanium is naturally exposed to oxygen, forming titanium oxides that we find in many minerals, dusts, sands, and soils.

1. Properties: white powder, a mixture of zinc sulfide and barium sulfate.

CSPI says it might reconsider its rating if specifications for food-grade titanium dioxide in the U.S. are updated to ensure nanoparticles are minimized, and new studies are conducted to assess its capacity to cause cancer or other health problems. 

A European ban of titanium dioxide in food took effect in 2022, but it is still legal for use in food in the U.S.