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

You possibly can formally style the rainbow with out the chance of most cancers. In late Might, 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 stated 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 function is to provide objects a shinier, extra vibrant, or extra opaque attract. Whereas Mars (which acquired Skittles in 2008) introduced that it could cease utilizing “all synthetic colours” in its merchandise in 2016, titanium dioxide coloring persevered 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 injury and elevated danger of most cancers. 

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

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

Banning Titanium Dioxide

The Make America Wholesome Once more report launched on Might 22 of this yr known as out titanium dioxide as an additive of concern, citing its potential hyperlinks to mobile and DNA injury⁵. 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 day by day consumption [of titanium dioxide] can’t be established” attributable to considerations concerning potential genotoxicity⁶.

However Mars and different firms 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 now not allowed, meals with titanium dioxide nonetheless embrace 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 youngsters.

State-Degree 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 underneath assessment. Additionally in 2023, an effort in California to ban the ingredient was defeated — however not for nothing. Based on Melanie Benesh, vp of presidency affairs on the EWG, Mars’ latest system change is undoubtedly because of state-level efforts like this one.

“The FDA has stated a variety of issues about meals components however we now have not seen them take any enforceable actions but,” she informed the BBC⁷. “What has unquestionably made a distinction is the entire 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