Is titanium dioxide (E171) in candy, gum, and food safe to eat?
No. Titanium dioxide disrupts gut bacteria and alters their metabolic activity in ways that promote intestinal inflammation.
What's actually in it
Titanium dioxide (E171 in Europe) is a white pigment used to make candy coatings bright white, whiten chewing gum, and give some processed foods an opaque white color. It's in Skittles, chewing gum, doughnuts, cake decorations, salad dressings, and other foods.
The European Food Safety Authority banned E171 in food in 2022, citing genotoxicity concerns. It's still permitted in the US.
What the research says
A 2026 study in Food and Chemical Toxicology analyzed how titanium dioxide particles affect the gut microbiome. The results showed that E171 alters the metabolic activity and composition of gut bacteria in ways that promote intestinal inflammation.
The gut microbiome is central to immune function, digestion, and overall health. E171 particles changed which bacterial species thrived and which declined, and it altered how those bacteria processed food and produced metabolites. The resulting shift was toward an inflammatory, dysbiotic state linked to conditions like inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer.
Children eat far more titanium dioxide per kilogram of body weight than adults because they consume more candy, gum, and brightly colored foods. Their gut microbiomes are also more vulnerable to disruption during development.
Checking ingredient labels for titanium dioxide or E171 and avoiding products that contain it is a direct way to reduce exposure.
The research at a glance
| Study | Journal | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Food additive titanium dioxide (E171) alters gut microbial metabolic activity and microbiome | Food and Chemical Toxicology | 2026 |
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