When manufacturers add titanium dioxide to foods and other ingestible products, it’s typically referred to as E171, which relates to food-grade purity.
The composition of lithopone underscores its superiority in specific applications. Ideally, prepared lithopone consists of 30 to 32 percent sulfide of zinc, and a negligible percentage of zinc oxide (1.5%), with the remaining majority being barium sulfate. These attributes render lithopone nearly comparable to the best grades of French process zinc oxide in terms of whiteness. Furthermore, its oil absorption, which sits between lead carbonate and zinc oxide, solidifies its position as a functional and efficient white pigment.
Titanium dioxide is produced in two main forms. The primary form, comprising over 98 percent of total production, is pigment grade titanium dioxide. The pigmentary form makes use of titanium dioxide’s excellent light-scattering properties in applications that require white opacity and brightness. The other form in which titanium dioxide is produced is as an ultrafine (nanomaterial) product. This form is selected when different properties, such as transparency and maximum ultraviolet light absorption, are required, such as in cosmetic sunscreens.
Sunscreens made with mineral active ingredients, like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, generally score well in EWG’s Guide to Sunscreens. They provide strong sun protection with few health concerns and don’t easily break down in the sun.