Tag: Whitening agent

According to the USDA, titanium dioxide is used in thousands of brand-name food products, but for reasons beyond nutritional value. Companies put titanium dioxide in food primarily for aesthetic and functional purposes, leveraging its bright white color, opacifying properties, and ability to protect ingredients.

According to the Environmental Working Group, titanium dioxide has been found in over 3,000 different food products, with its primary function being to serve as a white pigment. The answer to "why do people put titanium dioxide in food" lies mainly in aesthetics, but its use is surrounded by a complex regulatory and safety landscape.

According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), certain Coffee Mate creamers, specifically the 'Fat Free' varieties, have contained titanium dioxide. This ingredient acts as a whitening agent, but consumer awareness and regulatory shifts have led to evolving product formulations.