Titanium dioxide
ثاني أكسيد التيتانيوم
Artificial colour (inorganic) · CAS: 13463-67-7; E171
White colour the EU banned from food
Why this verdict
White colourant; purely cosmetic, no nutritional value. EU/UK BANNED all food uses since 14 Jan 2022 (Reg (EU) 2022/63) after EFSA (2021) could no longer consider it safe - genotoxicity (DNA damage from nanoparticles) could not be ruled out. Still US-permitted. Caution: EU-banned in food over an unresolved genotoxicity question, unnecessary in pet food.
What It Is
A mineral used to make food look whiter/brighter.
Titanium dioxide makes things look brighter and whiter - another colour your pet doesn’t need. The reason it stands out: Europe banned it from ALL food in 2022 because its safety experts couldn’t rule out genotoxicity (DNA damage) from the tiny nanoparticles. The US still allows it. There’s no nutritional reason for it to be in your pet’s bowl, so the EU’s caution is worth knowing.
Evidence & Status
For Dogs & Cats
Dogs
So-so
Cats
So-so
AAFCO / FDA status
US-permitted colour additive; EU/UK banned in all food since 14 Jan 2022 (Reg (EU) 2022/63; EFSA 2021).
Applies to
both
Halal Status: Halal
Mineral (inorganic); permissible.
Standard: MS 1500:2019; GSO 2055-1; JAKIM e-SMAF
Also Known As
TiO2 · E171 · CI 77891
Primary Source
Evidence, not medical advice. You decide.
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