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What is titanium dioxide?

Titanium dioxide remains in many food products in this country because of regulatory folly by the Food and Drug Administration, which allows problematic food ingredients to remain undetected and unreviewed.

The global Lithopone market was valued at $169.8 million in 2019, and is projected to reach $218.6 million by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 3.30% from 2020 to 2027.

A  2023 study published in the journal Environmental Research, scientists examined the effect of titanium dioxide nanoparticles on important gut bacteria in mice. Their results showed “the growth inhibitory effects could be associated with cell membrane damage caused by titanium dioxide nanoparticles to the bacterial strains. Metabolomics analysis showed that TiO2 NPs caused alterations in multiple metabolic pathways of gut bacteria, such as tryptophan and arginine metabolism, which were demonstrated to play crucial roles in regulating gut and host health.” The researchers also found that four different neuroprotective metabolites “were significantly reduced” in urine and in vitro bacteria and vivo urine samples. The researchers concluded: “Increasing evidence implies that the gut microbiome plays a profound role in regulating host metabolism. Our results illustrated that TiO2 NPs hindered the growth of four beneficial gut bacterial strains.”

There are many titanium dioxide manufacturer in market. Rutile Titanium dioxide in the form of a white pigment is widely used in the industry:
1. In the production of inks and printing inks - as a pigment with excellent whiteness and very good properties.
2. Plastic materials, such as: wall claddings, floor coverings (linoleum, rubber, PVC), roofing, wires, cables - titanium white is included in the protective layer against degradation of atmospheric conditions (especially UV radiation), and has concealing properties.
3. Cosmetics: gels, eye shadows, foundation, lipstick, pastes (including teeth) - as a component of pigments.
4. Tanning preparations - surface-modified with a hydrophobic coating - acts as a UV filter.
5. Paper pulp - anatine is used as a filler and reinforcement.
6, Packaging film, adhesive mortars, plasters, cement, caulking agents, ceramic tiles - is an additive that improves resistance to colour change.
7. PCigar production - titanium white gives the ash a white color.

Titanium dioxide prices varied across the Asia-Pacific region in this quarter. The supply disruption caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine made the supply of the feedstock titanium concentrate even more problematic, and in the first half of the second quarter, a bullish market outlook prevailed. The decline in TiO2 market values in India has also been backed by a decline in demand from downstream industries like automotive and construction.

Titanium dioxide has many purposes in both food and product development.

While this ruling from the EU General Court doesn’t immediately change the regulations surrounding titanium dioxide, nor does it change the ban that went into place in 2022, it does put the ingredient back in the spotlight.
 
In the coming months, we will see how the ruling impacts the regulations around titanium dioxide (E171), and we’ll see if the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) will take another look at the body of scientific evidence used to justify the current ban on E171 in foods and pharmaceuticals.