Does Haribo Have Titanium Dioxide? A Look at Candy Ingredients and Regulations

January 11, 2026 •

4 min read

Following a 2022 ban in the European Union, the presence of titanium dioxide (E171) in many food products, including confectionery, has changed significantly. The answer to 'Does Haribo have titanium dioxide?' is now nuanced, depending on the product and, most importantly, the country where it is purchased.

Quick Summary

Haribo has phased out titanium dioxide (E171) from many products sold in the European Union after a 2022 ban based on genotoxicity concerns. However, its use still varies regionally, particularly in the United States, where it remains an FDA-approved color additive.

Key Points

EU Ban: The European Union has banned the use of titanium dioxide (E171) in all food products since 2022, based on a safety review by EFSA.
Haribo's Replacement: In the EU, Haribo has replaced titanium dioxide with natural colorants derived from fruit and plant concentrates, like spirulina and radish.
US Regulations: The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to approve titanium dioxide for use in food, though some US companies are voluntarily removing it.
Regional Differences: Ingredient lists for Haribo products vary significantly depending on the country of sale due to different regulatory standards.
Genotoxicity Concerns: The EU's decision was influenced by the EFSA's inability to rule out genotoxicity (DNA damage) concerns related to titanium dioxide nanoparticles.
Check the Label: The only way for consumers to confirm the presence of titanium dioxide in a specific Haribo product is to read the ingredient list on the packaging.

The European Ban on Titanium Dioxide

In 2022, the European Commission officially banned the use of titanium dioxide (E171) as a food additive throughout the European Union. This decision was based on a 2021 safety assessment by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), which concluded that E171 could no longer be considered safe for consumption. The EFSA raised concerns over the potential for titanium dioxide nanoparticles to accumulate in the body and cause genotoxicity, or damage to DNA. While the evidence was not conclusive for all effects, the precautionary principle was applied, leading to the ban.

How the Ban Affected Haribo

As a German-based company, Haribo was directly impacted by this ruling and was required to reformulate its products for the EU market. This led to a major shift away from E171 in key products like Goldbears and other European candies. To maintain the bright, colorful appearance of its sweets, Haribo replaced the artificial whitener with natural alternatives.

Haribo's Natural Coloring Approach

In markets affected by the ban, Haribo shifted to using natural food colorants derived from fruit and plant concentrates. These ingredients provide the vibrant colors consumers expect without the use of titanium dioxide.

Natural Concentrate Sources: Haribo's new formulations utilize concentrates from a variety of sources, including safflower, spirulina, radish, apple, and elderberry.
Functionality: These concentrates perform the same aesthetic function as artificial colors, enhancing the visual appeal of the candy.
Clean Labeling: This reformulation also aligns with the growing consumer demand for 'clean label' products that contain more natural and recognizable ingredients.

Titanium Dioxide in the United States and the UK

In contrast to the EU, the regulatory landscape for titanium dioxide is different in the United States and the United Kingdom.

United States: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to approve titanium dioxide as a food additive, with a usage limit of 1% by weight of the food. Therefore, Haribo products sold in the US may contain titanium dioxide, although the company's ingredient lists for popular products like Goldbears currently do not list it. Due to increasing consumer and advocacy pressure, some US companies have voluntarily removed the additive.
United Kingdom: Despite Brexit, the UK's Food Standards Agency (FSA) did not immediately follow the EU ban on titanium dioxide. The additive remains legal for food use in the UK, although manufacturers may still reformulate products to align with EU regulations for the sake of supply chain consistency.

A Global Comparison: Ingredients and Regulations

To illustrate the regional differences, here is a comparison of how titanium dioxide is handled in key markets:


Feature	European Union (EU)	United States (US)	United Kingdom (UK)
Titanium Dioxide (E171)	Banned as a food additive since 2022.	Permitted as a color additive, with a 1% weight limit.	Permitted, as the FSA has not implemented a ban.
Reason for EU Ban	EFSA could not rule out genotoxicity concerns from nanoparticles.	FDA maintains that available safety studies do not show concerns.	UK has not changed its position on safety post-EU ban.
Haribo's Practice	Reformulated products use natural fruit and plant concentrates.	Ingredients may vary, but popular products like Goldbears do not list TiO2.	Haribo products likely follow the EU standard for consistency, but legality differs.
Manufacturer Action	Mandatory removal.	Voluntary removal by some brands due to consumer and advocacy pressure.	Voluntary removal by some brands, possibly for international supply chains.

Conclusion: Read the Label

In summary, the presence of titanium dioxide in Haribo products is no longer a simple 'yes' or 'no' answer. It depends on the product and, most importantly, the region of sale. In the EU, the additive has been banned since 2022, prompting Haribo to use natural colorants. In contrast, the US and UK still permit its use, though many companies, including Haribo for its key products, are choosing cleaner label alternatives. The best practice for any concerned consumer is to carefully read the ingredient list on the packaging, as it will always reflect the contents relevant to that specific product and market.

For more information on the safety assessment that led to the EU ban, you can read the report from the European Food Safety Authority.

Is there titanium dioxide in Haribo? A final summary

Regional Variation: Whether a Haribo product contains titanium dioxide depends heavily on the country where it is manufactured and sold, with the EU having a strict ban.
EU Ban: The European Union banned titanium dioxide (E171) in food in 2022 due to genotoxicity concerns from EFSA's safety assessment.
Natural Alternatives: In response to the EU ban, Haribo uses natural colorants from fruit and plant concentrates in many products for the European market.
US Regulation: In the United States, the FDA still permits the use of titanium dioxide in food, though some manufacturers have voluntarily removed it.
Check the Label: To be certain about any specific Haribo product, consumers should always read the ingredient label, which varies by region and product line.

Frequently Asked Questions

The EU banned titanium dioxide (E171) in food after the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) conducted a review in 2021 and concluded it could no longer be considered safe. The primary concern was the potential for nanoparticles to cause genotoxicity (damage DNA) and accumulate in the body.

No, not all Haribo products contain titanium dioxide. Its presence depends heavily on the regional market. For example, products sold in the EU no longer contain it due to a 2022 ban, while regulations differ in other regions like the US.

In regions where titanium dioxide is banned, Haribo uses natural colorants to achieve the desired appearance. These are often derived from fruit and plant concentrates, such as safflower, spirulina, and radish.

Yes, in the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) still permits the use of titanium dioxide as a color additive in food, subject to a weight limit of 1%.

Scientific bodies have different assessments. The EU's EFSA cited genotoxicity concerns related to nanoparticles, leading to its ban. In contrast, the US FDA continues to approve its use within specific limits.

The most reliable method is to read the ingredient list on the product packaging. Be aware that ingredient lists can vary between different countries for the same product.

No. While permitted by the FDA, many companies have voluntarily removed titanium dioxide from their candy products in response to consumer demand and advocacy group pressure. You must check the ingredient list for each individual product.