Titanium dioxide
E171
E171, titanium dioxide, dióxido de titanio, titanium white, CI Pigment White 6, anatase, rutile
What it is
Titanium dioxide (INS 171 / E171) is an insoluble white pigment used as a colour additive to whiten or brighten foods. Codex GSFA still contains food-use provisions for INS 171, while legal status varies by jurisdiction.
Why BOTIA flags it
Food-grade titanium dioxide is an insoluble white pigment made of particles of different sizes; absorption from the gut is very low, but particle size matters in its safety assessment. JECFA reassessed INS 171 in 2023 and found no identifiable dietary hazard, keeping its ADI "not specified", while EFSA concluded in 2021 that genotoxicity could not be ruled out and no safe daily intake could be established. The EU removed its food authorisation in 2022, while Codex and the United States still allow food uses, so E171 does not have the same scientific or legal status everywhere.
BOTIA CAN
- Identify E171, INS 171 and titanium dioxide when explicitly declared on the label.
- Explain the different JECFA and EFSA conclusions and the jurisdiction-specific legal status without presenting the EU decision as a worldwide ban.
BOTIA CANNOT
- Determine whether a product contains titanium dioxide when the label does not explicitly declare it.
- Determine the amount or particle-size distribution of titanium dioxide from the ingredient name alone.