Randy Chandler
Titanium dioxide is a whitening ingredient commonly added to food, cosmetics, and other products. It is an inorganic white pigment used to whiten certain cheeses, including cottage cheese, cream cheese, and pasta filata-style cheeses like mozzarella and ricotta made from cow's milk. Mozzarella made from cow's milk naturally has a yellow tint from beta carotene found in the grass, which consumers perceive as dirty. Titanium dioxide is added to achieve a whiter color without adverse effects. While the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) deems titanium dioxide safe, other organizations like the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have expressed concerns about its potential health risks, including genotoxicity and possible carcinogenicity. The debate surrounding the use of titanium dioxide in cheese highlights the ongoing evaluation of food additives and their potential impact on consumer health.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To add whiteness or brightness to cheese |
| Examples of cheese with titanium dioxide | Cottage cheese, cream cheese, mozzarella, ricotta, mac 'n' cheese, Cloverhill Cherry and Cheese Danish |
| Safety | The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) categorizes titanium dioxide as Generally Recognized as Safe. However, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has concluded that it should not be considered safe as a food additive due to uncertainties about possible inflammation and neurotoxicity. |
| Alternatives | Calcium carbonate, rice starch |
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What You'll Learn
Titanium dioxide is added to cheese to make it whiter
Titanium dioxide is a whitening ingredient in foods, cosmetics, and other products. It is an inorganic white pigment used to enhance the whiteness or brightness of foods. It is added to cheese to make it whiter.
Cheese, such as cottage cheese, cream cheese, and pasta filata-style cheeses, particularly mozzarella and ricotta made from cow's milk, often contain titanium dioxide. Mozzarella made from cow's milk naturally has a yellow tint from the beta carotene found in the grass. To consumers, this yellow tint appears "dirty", so titanium dioxide is added to achieve the desired whiteness.
Titanium dioxide has been used as a whitening additive since 1927 and was approved as a color additive by the Food and Drug Administration in 1966. It is commonly found in many processed foods, including cheese, cake frostings, snack cakes, cookies, coffee creamers, and candy.
While the FDA considers titanium dioxide safe for consumption, other organizations, including the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), have expressed concerns about its potential health risks. The EFSA has concluded that titanium dioxide particles can accumulate in the body over time and has potential genotoxicity, or the ability to damage DNA cells. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has listed titanium dioxide as a Group 2B carcinogen, indicating that it may be carcinogenic but requires further research.
Due to these concerns, some companies have removed titanium dioxide from their products. For example, Dunkin' Donuts removed it from its powdered donuts, and So Delicious reformulated its creamers to be titanium dioxide-free.
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It is a potentially harmful food additive
Titanium dioxide is a whitening ingredient in foods, cosmetics, and other products. It is a synthetic powdered food additive that enhances the pigments in cosmetics, toothpaste, and food. It is also used to replace the white colour associated with the absence of creamy milk fat in fat-free products. Titanium dioxide is added to cheese, including cottage cheese, cream cheese, mozzarella, and ricotta, to make it appear whiter.
While the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved titanium dioxide as a food colourant and categorizes it as Generally Recognized as Safe, other organizations have issued warnings about its use. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) , for example, has concluded that titanium dioxide should not be considered
The Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) warns against sprayable products and powders that may expose users' lungs to titanium dioxide through inhalation. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has listed titanium dioxide as a Group 2B carcinogen, an agent that may be carcinogenic but lacks sufficient animal and human research. This classification was based on studies that found that inhaling titanium dioxide dust might cause the development of lung tumors in animals.
While the majority of research on titanium dioxide focuses on inhalation rather than ingestion, the current findings suggest that more research is needed to determine how much of it is safe to eat before it becomes harmful. Some companies have already removed titanium dioxide from their products, and activist groups are calling for the FDA to reconsider its safety as a food additive.
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It is used in many processed foods
Titanium dioxide is a whitening ingredient in foods, cosmetics, and other products. It is a synthetic powdered food additive that enhances the pigments in cosmetics, toothpaste, and food. It is also used to improve the white colour and block ultraviolet rays. Titanium dioxide is added to food products to enhance their colour and opacity. It is commonly added to candies, chocolates, pastries, chewing gum, coffee creamers, cake decorations, and baked goods. It is also used in food packaging to prolong shelf life and reduce UV exposure.
Titanium dioxide is a widely used food pigment and additive. It is approved by the FDA as a colourant and is deemed safe for consumption. However, recent research and concerns have been raised about its potential health risks. The EFSA, for example, has concluded that titanium dioxide particles can accumulate in the body and has potential genotoxicity, which could damage DNA cells.
Some companies have already removed titanium dioxide from their products, including Dunkin' Donuts and Panera. However, it is still found in many processed foods, including cheese, cake frostings, snack cakes, cookies, and creamers. It is added to cheese, particularly mozzarella, to achieve a whiter colour, as consumers associate whiteness with cleanliness and purity.
While titanium dioxide is considered safe by some regulatory bodies, there are ongoing debates and concerns about its potential health risks. It is important for consumers to be aware of the presence of titanium dioxide in their food products and make informed choices. Alternatives to titanium dioxide exist, and some companies have successfully removed it from their products, indicating that it is not a necessary ingredient in all cases.
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It is considered safe by the FDA, but not by the EFSA
Titanium dioxide is a whitening ingredient in foods, cosmetics, and other products. It is a synthetic powdered food additive that enhances the pigments in cosmetics, toothpaste, and food. It is also added to some food packaging to prolong the shelf life of a product. In cheese, titanium dioxide is used to whiten certain varieties, including cottage cheese, cream cheese, and pasta filata style cheeses, particularly mozzarella and ricotta made from cow's milk.
In 1966, the ingredient was approved as a color additive by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA currently deems titanium dioxide safe to eat, categorizing it as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS). However, the FDA does note that high intake could be harmful.
On the other hand, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has concluded that titanium dioxide should not be considered safe as a food additive. In 2021, the EFSA released a statement that titanium dioxide particles "can accumulate in the body" over time, and there are uncertainties about possible inflammation and neurotoxicity. The EFSA's concerns are also due to the potential genotoxicity of titanium dioxide, or its ability to damage DNA cells. While no studies have been conclusive, they couldn't rule out any concern. For example, a 2020 study from Cairo University found that exposure to titanium dioxide particles was linked to changes in the brain tissue of mice.
The differing assessments of titanium dioxide by the FDA and EFSA highlight the ongoing debate and uncertainty regarding the safety of this substance as a food additive. While the FDA considers it safe with certain intake levels, the EFSA raises valid concerns about its potential health risks. As a result, some companies have stopped using titanium dioxide in their products, while others are seeking alternatives.
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It is the oxide of the metal titanium
Titanium dioxide, also known as TiO2, is the oxide of the metal titanium. It is a naturally occurring compound found in several kinds of rock and mineral sands. Titanium is the ninth most common element in the Earth's crust.
TiO2 is widely used as a whitening agent in food, cosmetics, and other products. In the context of cheese, titanium dioxide is added to certain varieties to enhance their whiteness or brightness. This is particularly common in cheeses like cottage cheese, cream cheese, mozzarella, and ricotta made from cow's milk, which naturally have a yellow tint due to the presence of beta carotene in the grass.
The addition of titanium dioxide to these cheeses aims to achieve the desired colour standard set by buffalo milk mozzarella, which is almost devoid of beta carotene and naturally white. By adding titanium dioxide to cow's milk during the cheesemaking process, manufacturers can mask the natural yellow colour and create a whiter appearance that is often preferred by consumers.
While titanium dioxide has been approved as a food colourant by regulatory bodies like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), concerns have been raised about its potential health effects. Some organizations, such as the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), have concluded that titanium dioxide particles can accumulate in the body and may have potential genotoxicity, or the ability to damage DNA cells. However, other groups, like the Titanium Dioxide Manufacturers Association (TDMA), argue that TiO2 is not hazardous and that inhalation studies on rats may not directly translate to human ingestion.
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Frequently asked questions
Titanium dioxide is a whitening ingredient used to enhance the colour of cheese. It is added to cheese to make it appear brighter and whiter.
Titanium dioxide is considered safe by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is deemed Generally Recognized as Safe. However, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has concluded that it should not be considered safe as a food additive due to uncertainties about possible inflammation and neurotoxicity. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has listed titanium dioxide as a Group 2B carcinogen.
Titanium dioxide is commonly added to mozzarella, cottage cheese, cream cheese, and pasta filata style cheeses, such as mozzarella and ricotta made from cow's milk. It is also found in shredded packaged cheeses and cheese products like cheese slices.
