Foodstuffs containing E171 on the European market: it’s over!
It’s official: as of today, foodstuffs containing E171 can no longer be placed on the European market. Those which had been previously distributed will be able to remain on the market until their date of minimum durability or their use-by-date.
The last step in a process to ban E171 in food in Europe
This deadline is the final regulatory step in the process of banning E171 in Europe. It was provided for in the European regulation 2022/63 of January 14, 2022 banning the food additive titanium dioxide (E171), which came into force on February 8, 2022. As a reminder, the annexes of the regulation have been modified following the reversal of the position of the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) in 2021 and the publication of a notice concluding that this additive can no longer be considered “safe”, due to potential genotoxic effects (DNA damage).
As of 2025, this colorant could also be banned in medicines.
In France, recalls of products containing E171
In France, food products containing titanium dioxide have not been authorized since January 1, 2020. French authorities continue to be vigilant about the marketing of these products: the DGCCRF has again issued, in March and July 2022, several product recalls for those containing E171, published on the site of RappelConso.
Despite this European vigilance, E171 is still authorized in the USA… not for long?
This European vigilance raises questions on the other side of the Atlantic. Indeed, in the United States, titanium dioxide as a food additive is still authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In July, a consumer filed a complaint (intended to be considered a class action) in the federal court for the Northern District of California against the company Mars, which continues to market Skittles candies containing E1711Thames v Mars Inc, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 22-04145even though the company had committed to remove it from its products in 2016 (and has removed it from M&M’s in France). This ongoing action was reported by several media2Guardian, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, etc.. The fact that Europe evaluated and banned E171 poses real health questions for the authorities that continue to allow this additive in food.
Other news on the topic
Upcoming Nano Agenda
- 5th Joint Symposium on Nanotechnology
- Organizers: the Fraunhofer Nanotechnology Network, with the support of the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR)
- Date: May 13-14, 2025
- Topics:
- the application of nanotechnology in various sectors, including digitalization, 2D/3D printing, carbon-based materials and battery materials
- nano on various regulations (REACh, food contact materials, cosmetics, bioagents, PPPs)
- adaptation and development of OECD Test Guidelines for nano and advanced materials (Malta Initiative)
- review on nano-specific NAMs (new approach methodologies)
- when you’re nano and you know it: dealing with uncertainty regarding the nanomaterial definition in regulatory frameworks
- …
- Website: www.isc.fraunhofer.de/…2025/5th-symposium-nanotechnology.html
- 4-day training :
- the different routes by which toxic substances can enter the body
- the importance of toxicokinetics in preventing the toxicity of substances,
- the absorption, distribution, metabolisation and elimination of xenobiotics
- the toxicity of nanoparticles
- Organizer : Association Toxicologie Chimie (ATC)
- From May, 19 to May, 22
- Speakers :
- Frédéric Gaidou (Chemical engineer specialising in Toxicology, ERAMET Group, Paris, President ATC Paris)
- Sarah Dognin dit Cruissat (Doctor of Pharmacy, nutritionist, toxicochemist, CALMEVA, Lyon)
- Jean-Dominique Puyt (Veterinary Doctor, Honorary Professor at the École Vétérinaire, Nantes)
- Isabelle Malissin (Doctor, Hôpital Lariboisière, Paris)
- Nicole Proust (Research Engineer, Honorary Director of Research at the CNRS, Specialist in Nanotechnologies, Arsenic, Electromagnetic Waves, Palaiseau)
- Marie-Chantal Canivenc-Lavier ((Nutri-toxicologist, Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l’Alimentation INRA-Dijon)
- Claude Lesné (Doctor, Honorary Senior Research Engineer at the CNRS)
- Nicole Proust (Ingénieure Recherche, Directeur de recherche honoraire du CNRS, Spécialiste Nanotechnologies, Arsenic, Ondes électromagnétiques, Palaiseau)
- Website : https://www.atctoxicologie.fr/notre-formation.html
- E-learning program: awareness-raising for personnel who come into contact with nanomaterials during research, formulation, production, maintenance, cleaning, upkeep, etc., as well as safety coordinators or engineers, facility managers, heads of laboratories where nanoparticles are handled.
- Organizers: INSTN Grenoble (CEA)
- On the program:
- 1 – Introduction, definition and characteristics of nanomaterials
- 2 – Toxicity of nanomaterials: the state of knowledge
- 3 – Metrology and characterization of nanomaterials
- 4 – Prevention and protection against nanomaterials in the workplace
- 5 – Quiz: assessment of learning outcomes
- The 2-hour course can be viewed for one month from the date of registration.
- Website: https://instn.cea.fr/…risques-lies-aux-nanomateriaux…
Notes and references
- 1Thames v Mars Inc, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 22-04145
- 2