titanium dioxide

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is announcing that we have filed a color additive petition, submitted by Environmental Defense Fund, et al., proposing that FDA repeal the color additive regulation providing for the use of titanium dioxide in foods.

Under section 721(d)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) (21 U.S.C. 379e(d)(1)), we are giving notice that we have filed a color additive petition (CAP 3C0325), submitted by Environmental Defense Fund, Center for Environmental Health, Center for Food Safety, Center for Science in the Public Interest, and Environmental Working Group, c/o Tom Neltner, 1875 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20009. The petition proposes that we repeal the color additive regulation for titanium dioxide in § 73.575 (21 CFR 73.575), which permits the use of titanium dioxide in foods.

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2023-09366 Download

Bill 2257/22 was introduced in the Chamber of Deputies, which prohibits the use of titanium dioxide in the manufacture of food, as well as the importation of articles containing this substance. The text under analysis in the House establishes that any non-compliance with the regulations will be a violation of federal health regulations (Law 6.437/77).

Titanium dioxide is a chemical compound, derived from a natural mineral, used as an industrial colorant, among other purposes. Currently, this use is authorized in Brazil by the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa).

According to the author of the proposal, Deputy Ney Leprevost (União-PR), in the case of the use of titanium dioxide in food, studies indicate the potential to cause inflammatory lesions in the intestinal tract of experimental animals.

A proposal with similar content (PL 1370/11) passed through the House for two legislatures and was even approved by the Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development, but ended up shelved in 2019.