08/10/2021 (Agence Europe) – Titanium dioxide (E171), a colouring agent used as a food additive, will be banned in the EU in 2022, the European Commission announced on Friday 8 October. The Member States’ experts on the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed have endorsed the European Commission’s proposal to this effect. The EU institution based its proposal on the scientific opinion of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), published last May, according to which titanium dioxide, which may be genotoxic, can no longer be considered safe when used as a food additive (see EUROPE 12715/18). “We act decisively with our Member States, based on sound science, to remove a risk from a chemical used in food”, commented Commissioner for Health Stella Kyriakides, quoted in a statement. (AN)