The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published a new scientific opinion that updates its previous assessment on the safety of the food additive

titanium dioxide

(E171), authorized in the EU in accordance with Regulation (EC) No. 1333/2008 and which you no longer consider "safe" to use.

The

titanium dioxide

is a technological substance composed of nanoparticles of a size less than 100 nanometers, containing at most 50% of the particles of nanometric size to which they

may be exposed consumers and used as food coloring, mainly pastries,

bakery

,

soups

,

broths

and

sauces

,

salads

and

salty

pasta

for sandwiches, although it is also present in cosmetics, paints and medicines.

The EFSA panel of experts on flavorings and food additives concludes in this new opinion that, after evaluating all the studies and scientific data available,

titanium dioxide

"cannot continue to be considered safe as a food additive", as specified by the professor. Maged Younes, President of the EFSA Technical Commission for Food Additives and Flavors (FAF).

According to the expert, a "key element" to reach this conclusion is that genotoxicity problems - the ability of a chemical substance to damage DNA - could not be ruled out after the consumption of the particles that make up this

food additive

. In his view, given that genotoxicity can lead to carcinogenic effects, it is "essential" to assess the possible genotoxic effect of a substance to conclude on its safety.

"Although in this case the evidence of general toxic effects was not conclusive, the genotoxicity of E171 could not be ruled out nor could a safe level be set for the intake of the additive," he insisted, while pointing out that, despite the absorption of the titanium dioxide particles "is low after oral ingestion, they can accumulate in the body."

TOXIC EFFECTS

Along the same lines, Professor

Matthew Wright

, member of the FAF technical committee and also chair of the EFSA working group on E 171, asserted that, although the evidence for general toxic effects was not completely conclusive, " Based on the new data and the strengthened methods used, we cannot rule out concerns about genotoxicity. " "Consequently, we could not establish a safe level for the

daily intake of the food additive

," he added.

The safety of the

food additive E 171

was re-evaluated by the EFSA panel of experts on flavorings and additives in 2016 within the framework of Regulation (EU) No. 257/2010, as part of the systematic re-evaluation program of food additives authorized in the UE and then recommended that new studies be carried out to determine the possible effects on the reproductive system, which would allow to establish an Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI). He also highlighted the need to characterize the material used as a food additive (E 171), in particular with regard to its particle size and distribution.

The updated assessment reviews the outcome of this earlier work by EFSA and was commissioned by the European Commission in March 2020 following the publication of the findings of the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Safety and Health (Anses).

Once the new EFSA opinion is known, the European Commission and the Member States

are already "working" to "address, in a coordinated manner and without delay", the "precise" actions

to ensure that the identified risk is "under control. "in order to" safeguard "the health of the population, according to the Spanish Food Safety Agency (Aesan).

The Spanish agency warned that the use of food additives "must always be safe on the available scientific basis, respond to a technological need, and not mislead the consumer" and pointed out that these types of authorized food additives are subject to to a "permanent" reassessment process to ensure their safety.

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