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The chemical is also found in common household and industrial products such as paints, coatings, adhesives, paper, plastics and rubber, printing inks, coated fabrics and textiles, as well as ceramics.
Other experts say there is simply no conclusive evidence at this point that titanium dioxide is damaging to humans after ingesting. Kaminski in particular said the research studies cite health hazards that were found by using high doses of the product, which you would not normally see in food.
When E171 is part of a food product, it passes through the digestive system without causing harm because E171 combines with the other ingredients.
It has an extremely high melting point of 1 843ºC and boiling point of 2 972ºC, so occurs naturally as a solid, and, even in its particle form, it is insoluble in water. TiO2 is also an insulator.
When asked about the recent Skittles lawsuit, the FDA said the agency does not comment on pending litigation.
In 2016, the European Food Safety Authority, or EFSA, assessed titanium dioxide and determined that the evidence available at the time didn’t conclusively point to any health problems for consumers.
Well asides from making you re-think that M & M addiction (chocolate coated in Titanium Dioxide…..anyone?!)
Lithopone is the re-discovered white pigment with functional properties suitable for several applications.
In its statement to USA TODAY, the FDA maintained that, in all post-approvals for food additives, our scientists continue to review relevant new information to determine whether there are safety questions and whether the use of such substance is no longer safe under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
R-5566:
When manufacturers add titanium dioxide to foods and other ingestible products, it’s typically referred to as E171, which relates to food-grade purity.
Lithopone is a white pigment that is commonly used in a variety of industries, including the paint, plastic, and rubber industries. With 30% of the world's lithopone factories located in China, the country plays a significant role in the production and supply of this important chemical compound.
Additionally, the committee noted that the available data did not provide convincing evidence of genotoxicity for titanium dioxide as a food additive, but recognized the limitations in current methodologies with respect to the testing of poorly soluble particulate materials. Although there were uncertainties in the genotoxicity data, the experts took into account the fact that the additive was not carcinogenic in adequately conducted two-year studies in mice and rats at doses of up to 7,500 mg/kg BW per day for mice, and 2,500 mg/kg BW per day for rats, the highest doses tested. There was also no evidence of reproductive or developmental toxicity in studies in rats at doses up to 1,000 mg/kg BW per day, the highest doses tested.