Another common use of titanium IV oxide is in food coloring. Titanium dioxide is a FDA-approved food additive that is used to enhance the color of various food products. It is commonly used in candies, pastries, and dairy products to create vibrant colors. Titanium dioxide is a safe food additive that is used in small quantities to enhance the visual appeal of food products.

Exposure routes are the pathways that allow ingredients to enter our bodies. Primary exposure routes include: 

Titanium dioxide can also be found in dairy products to make them whiter and brighter … like frosting or cottage cheese, Stoiber told USA TODAY, adding that the additive is used in other products – such as food or beverage instant mixes – as an anti-caking agent.

The Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety issued an opinion of the safety of titanium dioxide in food, stating that it should no longer be considered as safe when used as a food additive.

By reviewing wholesale lithopone MSDS quotes, businesses can ensure they are sourcing a quality product that meets their specific requirements while also prioritizing safety and regulatory compliance. It is important to work with reputable suppliers who provide accurate and up-to-date MSDS information to guarantee the safe and efficient use of lithopone in industrial applications.

As mentioned above, these oxide NPs are harmful in part because both anatase and rutile forms are semiconductors and produce ROS. Particularly, P25 kind has band-gap energies estimated of 3.2 and 3.0 eV, equivalent to radiation wavelengths of approximately 388 and 414 nm, respectively. Irradiation at these wavelengths or below produces a separation of charge, resulting in a hole in the valence band and a free electron in the conduction band, due to the electron movement from the valence to conduction bands. These hole–electron pairs generate ROS when they interact with H₂O or O₂ [43,44]. It was described that they can cause an increase in ROS levels after exposure to UV-visible light [45]. The NBT assay in the studied samples showed that bare P25TiO₂NPs produce a large amount of ROS, which is drastically reduced by functionalization with vitamin B2 (Fig. 5). This vitamin, also known as riboflavin, was discovered in 1872 as a yellow fluorescent pigment, [46] but its function as an essential vitamin for humans was established more than sixty years later, and its antioxidant capacity was not studied until the end of the XX century [47,48]. This antioxidant role in cells is partially explained because the glutathione reductase enzyme (GR) requires it for good functionality. This enzyme is the one in charge of the conversion of oxidized glutathione to its reduced form which acts as a powerful inner antioxidant and can quench the ROS [49,50]. The cost of this action is that the glutathione is converted to the oxidized form and needs to be recovered by the GR. Consequently, the cells need more vitamin B2. Another glutathione action is the protection against hydroperoxide. This activity is also mediated by riboflavin. Therefore, local delivery of this vitamin seems to significantly help the cells in their fight to keep the oxidative balance, once they are exposed to high levels of ROS.

Moreover, the region of sourcing can also impact pricing. Suppliers in different geographical locations may offer varied prices due to differences in transportation costs, availability of raw materials, and local market conditions. Buyers must consider these regional variances when negotiating prices and establishing long-term relationships with suppliers. In many cases, sourcing from manufacturers that can produce high-quality lithopone pigments at competitive rates can lead to significant cost savings.

Although the evidence for general toxic effects was not conclusive, on the basis of the new data and strengthened methods we could not rule out a concern for genotoxicity and consequently we could not establish a safe level for daily intake of the food additive, commented Matthew Wright, member of the EFSA's Food Additives and Flavourings Panel in a press statement.

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FDA’s response

It's also worth noting that even prior to the EU decision, France had already outlawed titanium dioxide in food back in January 2020.

Food additive or carcinogen? The growing list of chemicals banned in EU but used in US, by Mikaela Conley, The Guardian, June 23, 2022