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

You may formally style the rainbow with out the danger of most cancers. In late Could, after over a decade of stress 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 vital 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 troubles over titanium dioxide in meals are linked to its purported genotoxicity. The analysis solidifies these worries, linking the additive to mobile injury and elevated threat 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 threat of contamination with heavy metals resembling lead, arsenic, or mercury⁴. So is titanium dioxide secure? Effectively, it actually 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 12 months known as out titanium dioxide as an additive of concern, citing its potential hyperlinks to mobile and DNA injury⁵. This led to the current 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 “a suitable day by day consumption [of titanium dioxide] can’t be established” because of issues 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 authorized 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 Pink 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 Middle 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 below assessment. Additionally in 2023, an effort in California to ban the ingredient was defeated — however not for nothing. Based on Melanie Benesh, vice chairman of presidency affairs on the EWG, Mars’ current formulation change is undoubtedly due to state-level efforts like this one.

“The FDA has mentioned numerous 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