From studies deemed relevant, the experts found that titanium dioxide as a food additive is poorly absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract of mice and rats, with no adverse effects observed in short-term studies in rodents receiving titanium dioxide in their diets. No observed adverse effect levels (NOAELs) of 15,000 milligrams per kilogram of bodyweight (mg/kg BW) per day and 5,000 mg/kg BW per day—the highest doses tested—were established for mice and rats, respectively.

It should also be considered that due to the low pH in the stomach, the increased dissolution of the TiO₂ particles may increase its bioavailability and may facilitate the entry of titanium ions into the blood circulation. Despite the relatively large consumption of TiO₂ as a food additive, no studies on the effect of pH on its absorption and bioavailability have been found in the literature. This can be attributed to a general belief that TiO₂is completely insoluble. However, this is not completely true, as TiO₂ particles show a certain degree of solubility.