EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) declared that “titanium dioxide” (TiO₂) will not considered safe anymore when used as feed additive.

Titanium dioxide can no longer be considered safe when used as an additive in animal feed, EFSA has concluded. The assessment by EFSA’s Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) follows the conclusion reached by EFSA’s Panel on Food Additives and Flavorings (FAF) that the same compound can no longer be considered safe when used as a food additive.

The FEEDAP Panel could not rule out concerns related to genotoxicity, which is the ability of a substance to damage DNA, the genetic material of cells.

After oral ingestion, the absorption of titanium dioxide particles is low, but they can accumulate in the body. This, together with a lack of data, meant the panel could not conclude on the safety of TiO₂ for animals, consumers and the environment. Regarding user safety, titanium dioxide is considered potentially carcinogenic by inhalation.

Titanium dioxide is currently authorized for use as a coloring agent.