What Snacks Contain Titanium Dioxide? A Guide for a Healthier Diet

October 5, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the Environmental Working Group, more than 3,000 U.S. food products listed titanium dioxide (E171) as an ingredient. This opaque white pigment is used for aesthetic purposes, which often leaves consumers wondering: what snacks contain titanium dioxide and what are the health implications for their family's nutrition diet?

Quick Summary

This guide outlines common snack products that contain the food additive titanium dioxide (E171) and explains its non-nutritional purpose. It explores the differing regulatory decisions in the EU and US, examines potential health concerns raised by scientific studies, and suggests cleaner eating alternatives for making informed dietary choices.

Key Points

Common in Candy and Gum: Titanium dioxide (E171) is frequently found in hard-shelled candies, gummies, and chewing gum, acting as a white pigment.
Used for Aesthetics, Not Nutrition: The additive's sole purpose is to create a bright white color, increase opacity, and improve visual appeal; it offers no nutritional benefit.
Regulatory Conflict: The EU banned E171 in 2022 due to genotoxicity concerns, while the FDA in the US still permits its use in food products.
Potential Health Concerns: Some studies suggest links between TiO2 nanoparticles and DNA damage, inflammation, and potential negative impacts on gut health.
Hidden on Labels: Consumers should be aware that titanium dioxide might be listed under broader terms like "artificial color" or "color added".
Natural Alternatives Exist: Ingredients such as calcium carbonate and rice starch offer natural ways to achieve similar whitening effects without the associated health concerns.

Common Snacks and Food Products with Titanium Dioxide

Titanium dioxide, or E171, is widely used for its ability to create a bright white color and opaque finish, making food more visually appealing. While it is most famously known for its inclusion in certain candies, it can be found in a surprisingly wide array of processed foods and snacks sold on U.S. store shelves.

Candies and Chewing Gum

Hard-shelled candies: Popular candies like Skittles, M&M's, and some brands of jelly beans use E171 to provide a uniform base coat for brighter colors.
Gummies and chews: Certain sour gummies and other chewy candies also contain titanium dioxide for coloring.
Mints: Breath mints, such as Eclipse Chewy Mints, often rely on the additive for their white appearance.
Chewing gum: Many brands of chewing gum contain E171, especially sugar-free and whitening varieties.

Baked Goods and Desserts

Frosted pastries and donuts: Products like powdered donuts, angel slices, and toaster pastries (e.g., Pop-Tarts) may use E171 in their white frostings and coatings.
Cakes and cupcakes: The bright white frosting on many pre-packaged snack cakes contains this additive.
Cookies: Certain brands of cookies, including Chips Ahoy!, list titanium dioxide as an ingredient.
Ice cream: Some lower-fat and premium ice creams utilize E171 to enhance their whiteness.

Other Processed Snacks

Snack mixes: Trail mixes with multi-colored candy pieces often contain titanium dioxide.
White sauces and dips: Products like creamy salad dressings, some mayonnaises, and country sausage gravy may include E171 for opaqueness.
Macaroni and cheese: Some boxed macaroni and cheese products use titanium dioxide for coloring.

Why Food Manufacturers Use Titanium Dioxide

Titanium dioxide (TiO2), labeled as E171 in the European Union, is prized by the food industry for its aesthetic and functional properties. It has no nutritional value and is not a preservative, serving a purely cosmetic purpose. Its primary applications include:

Whitening and Opacity: It creates a brilliant, opaque white that is ideal for frosting, cake decorations, and white sauces.
Color Enhancement: In brightly colored products like candies, it is used as a base coat to ensure the final colors appear more vibrant and uniform.
Texture Improvement: In some products, it can provide a smoother texture.
Anti-caking Agent: It is sometimes used in powdered mixes, such as coffee creamers, to prevent clumping.

Health Concerns and Differing Regulations

For decades, titanium dioxide was considered safe for consumption. However, recent scientific reviews, particularly in Europe, have raised significant health concerns, primarily related to the potential effects of its nano-sized particles. The differing regulatory approaches reflect the ongoing scientific debate.

Potential Health Risks

Studies, many conducted on animals, have highlighted several potential risks:

Genotoxicity: The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) concluded in 2021 that it could not rule out genotoxicity, which is the ability of a substance to damage DNA. This was the key reason for the EU ban on E171.
Inflammation and Gut Health: Research has linked TiO2 nanoparticles to intestinal inflammation and alterations in the gut microbiota, which could potentially increase the risk of conditions like inflammatory bowel disease.
Systemic Accumulation: Nanoparticles from food-grade TiO2 can be absorbed in the body and accumulate in organs such as the liver and spleen.

Conflicting Regulatory Decisions

The safety of titanium dioxide has led to divergent regulatory decisions worldwide. Here is a comparison:


Feature	European Union (EU)	United States (US)
Status as a Food Additive	Banned for use in foods as of 2022.	Permitted by the FDA as a color additive, with quantity not to exceed 1% by weight.
Reason for Decision	Precautionary stance based on EFSA's 2021 conclusion that genotoxicity concerns could not be ruled out.	FDA continues to consider it safe based on its last comprehensive review in 1973 and available studies.
Consumer Awareness	Consumers can assume EU food products do not contain this additive.	Consumers must read labels carefully, as it may be listed as "titanium dioxide," "artificial color," or simply "color added".
Nano-specific Regulations	The EU requires labeling for products containing nanoparticles in other applications (e.g., cosmetics).	No specific regulations mandating nanoparticle disclosure on food labels.

Finding Cleaner Snacks: Alternatives to Titanium Dioxide

Given the conflicting information and potential health concerns, many consumers opt to reduce their intake of E171. Fortunately, food manufacturers have access to natural alternatives that can achieve a similar aesthetic effect.

Calcium Carbonate (E170): A mineral that provides a white color and is suitable for neutral pH products like chewing gum, hard candies, and icing. It has a long history of safe use.
Rice Starch: A natural, fine, white powder that functions as a whitening agent and thickener, appealing to clean-label consumers.
Natural Pigments: For colored snacks, brands can use natural dyes from fruits, vegetables, and plants, such as beetroot, turmeric, or spirulina.

Conclusion

Understanding what snacks contain titanium dioxide is an important step toward making more informed and health-conscious food choices. While the use of E171 is banned in Europe due to genotoxicity concerns, it remains a common ingredient in many U.S. food products. The additive serves no nutritional purpose and is used solely for visual appeal. Consumers who wish to avoid it should carefully check food labels, looking for explicit listings or the more general "artificial color." Choosing whole, unprocessed snacks or looking for products that utilize natural colorants like calcium carbonate or rice starch provides a straightforward alternative for a cleaner, healthier nutrition diet. The evolving regulatory landscape and mounting scientific evidence highlight the importance of staying informed and prioritizing transparency in food ingredients. For more resources on food additives, consider consulting guides from organizations like the Center for Science in the Public Interest.(https://www.cspi.org/chemical-cuisine/titanium-dioxide)

Frequently Asked Questions

Titanium dioxide is added to snacks and other foods for purely aesthetic purposes. It functions as a white coloring agent (E171) to brighten products, increase their opacity, and provide a smooth, uniform appearance, such as in frosting or candy coatings.

No, titanium dioxide is not banned everywhere. Its status is highly debated, with the European Union banning its use as a food additive in 2022 due to genotoxicity concerns. However, it remains approved by regulatory bodies in other countries, including the United States, Canada, and Australia.

While titanium dioxide may be listed explicitly as 'titanium dioxide' or 'E171,' food companies in the U.S. can also use less specific terms like 'artificial color' or 'color added.' Reading ingredient labels carefully and looking for these phrases is the best way to identify its presence.

Health concerns are primarily focused on the nanoparticle form of titanium dioxide, which can be present in food-grade material. Studies suggest potential genotoxicity (damage to DNA), intestinal inflammation, and alterations to gut bacteria. These findings prompted the EU ban, though other countries have reached different conclusions.

Yes, several natural alternatives exist. Calcium carbonate and rice starch can be used to achieve a white, opaque appearance similar to that of titanium dioxide. Other natural pigments derived from plants and vegetables can provide vibrant colors without using synthetic additives.

To avoid titanium dioxide, opt for whole, unprocessed foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. When choosing packaged snacks, look for products that specifically state they use natural colorings, or check the ingredient list for alternatives like calcium carbonate or rice starch.

The FDA's stance is based on its assessment that available safety studies do not demonstrate health concerns at the permitted concentration of up to 1% by weight. The FDA has not conducted a comprehensive safety review since 1973, and its position differs from that of the EU and some public health advocacy groups.