You may have heard about food additives banned in the European Union (EU) but not in North America. Why the difference? Unlike the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) provides fewer exceptions and fast-track options for food manufacturers, and it regularly re-investigates its past approvals.
But just because the FDA says something is safe to eat doesn’t mean you’ll want to eat it—especially after you learn these concerning facts.
Titanium dioxide (E171)
Ever wonder how foods are whitened? Titanium dioxide (also known as E171) is a white pigment commonly added to foods in the US, appearing as either “artificial color” or “colored with titanium dioxide” on the ingredients label. It’s been linked with intestinal inflammation and genotoxicity —the damaging of our DNA—and is banned in the EU. You can find titanium dioxide in processed baked goods, candy, and chewing gum.