Is Titanium Dioxide in Meals Protected? Why It’s Banned from Skittles

You’ll be able to formally style the rainbow with out the danger of most cancers. In late Could, after over a decade of strain from well being and security teams, Bloomberg reported that Mars has lastly eliminated titanium dioxide from Skittles formulations within the U.S.¹.

“Our dedication to high quality is what has enabled Mars to be loved by shoppers for over a century, and nothing is extra necessary than the protection of our merchandise,” a spokesperson mentioned in a press release.

Titanium dioxide is utilized in a number of merchandise, together with paint and sunscreen. However what’s titanium dioxide used for in meals? Its major goal is to offer objects a shinier, extra vibrant, or extra opaque attract. Whereas Mars (which acquired Skittles in 2008) introduced that it might cease utilizing “all synthetic colours” in its merchandise in 2016, titanium dioxide coloring continued till late 2024, when Mars quietly eliminated it from the sweet’s formulation. 

What Is Titanium Dioxide and What Are the Well being Dangers?

The concerns over titanium dioxide in meals are linked to its purported genotoxicity. The analysis solidifies these worries, linking the additive to mobile harm and elevated threat of most cancers. 

A 2016 examine in Mini-Critiques in Medicinal Chemistry discovered that the compound might contribute to oxidative stress and irritation, with the ensuing cell harm having potential carcinogenic unintended effects². A 2014 examine in Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy confirmed that titanium oxide particles might induce tumors in human gastric cells³. 

As if that weren’t sufficient, a 2018 analysis evaluation within the Journal of Nanobiotechnology pointed to a threat of contamination with heavy metals comparable to lead, arsenic, or mercury⁴. So is titanium dioxide secure? Nicely, it definitely looks like it’s not definitely worth the threat only for extra brightly coloured Skittles. 

Banning Titanium Dioxide

The Make America Wholesome Once more report launched on Could 22 of this yr referred to as out titanium dioxide as an additive of concern, citing its potential hyperlinks to mobile and DNA harm⁵. This led to the latest ban of titanium dioxide at school lunches in Arizona. 

This ban is already in place in different international locations — the European Union banned titanium oxide in meals in 2022, when the European Meals Security Authority wrote that “an appropriate every day consumption [of titanium dioxide] can’t be established” as a consequence of considerations relating to potential genotoxicity⁶.

However Mars and different corporations have disputed these claims — and so, for that matter, have U.S. regulators, who declare that titanium dioxide is secure inside authorised limits. Whereas titanium oxide in Skittles is not allowed, meals with titanium dioxide nonetheless embody Wegman’s Macaroni and Cheese, sure Campbell’s soups, and a few Lunchables objects. 

Different Mars merchandise, like M&Ms, nonetheless comprise artificial dyes like Purple 40, which has been linked to potential inflammatory and carcinogenic unintended effects, and Yellow 5 (tartrazine), which has been linked to temper issues in kids.

State-Stage Efforts Make a Distinction

In 2023, the Environmental Working Group and Heart for Meals Security filed a petition to ask regulators on the FDA to ban titanium oxide from meals, however as of March 2024, it was nonetheless beneath evaluation. Additionally in 2023, an effort in California to ban the ingredient was defeated — however not for nothing. In line with Melanie Benesh, vice chairman of presidency affairs on the EWG, Mars’ latest method change is undoubtedly because of state-level efforts like this one.

“The FDA has mentioned plenty of issues about meals components however we’ve not seen them take any enforceable actions but,” she instructed the BBC⁷. “What has unquestionably made a distinction is all the motion on the state degree.”

Sources:

1. https://www.bloomberg.com/information/articles/2025-05-27/skittles-removes-controversial-additive-targeted-by-rfk-jr?embedded-checkout=true 
2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26996620/
3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24051123/
4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29859103/
5. https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/WH-The-MAHA-Report-Evaluation.pdf
6. https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/information/titanium-dioxide-e171-no-longer-considered-safe-when-used-food-additive
7. https://www.bbc.com/information/articles/c14kp3rdreeo 

Tags: synthetic coloring FDA ban meals components skittles titanium dioxide titanium oxide