Matthew Wright, chair of the authority's working group on titanium dioxide, noted that the evidence for general toxic effects was not conclusive, but that the panel couldn't rule out genotoxicity entirely. There were also some current data limitations and the assessment could not establish a safe level for daily intake of the food additive, he stated.

The titanium dioxide (TiO2) industry supplier plays a crucial role in providing this essential material for a wide range of applications. TiO2 is a white pigment that is commonly used in paints, coatings, plastics, and paper, among other industries. The demand for TiO2 continues to grow as it is an important ingredient in products that require opacity, brightness, and UV protection.

TiO₂ comes in many different forms. However, only a few of these forms are considered food-grade (acceptable to be added to food). Many studies that raised concern about the safety of TiO₂, including the concern for genotoxicity, used forms of TiO₂ that are not considered acceptable for use in food and have different properties than food-grade TiO₂. Other studies did use food-grade TiO₂, but took steps to break the material down into smaller particles than what would normally be found in food.