The European Parliament’s ENVI (Environment, Public Health and Food Safety) Committee has approved a motion for a resolution calling on the European Commission to ban the food use of titanium dioxide (E 171), a dye deemed hazardous to health. This was reported by French MEP Eric Andrieu, co-author of the motion for a resolution voted by a large majority on 7.9.20. (1)
The carcinogenic nanomaterial
Titanium dioxide (E171) is widely used as a coloring agent in foods but especially in dietary supplements and drugs, as found in our market surveys. Also widely used in cosmetics and personal care products, CI 77891/TitaniumDioxide (INCI nomenclature) also finds use in paints, paper, and other everyday products.
The nanometer form of Titanium Dioxide is considered very high performance, in an industrial logic. The miniaturization of particles, for example, has made sunscreens that used to leave white marks on the skin invisible. But it is accompanied by not insignificant dangers to consumer health. Established risks include contributing to the development of inflammatory bowel disease, damage to the immune, endocrine and reproductive systems, and inhalation carcinogenicity. A danger, the latter, which the European Commission believed it could mitigate with a warning, on the label, on products subject to inhalation. (2)
France-Europe, 1-0
The additive is currently authorized in food throughout Europe, excluding France. The toxicity of E171 has been investigated by the French Food Safety Agency (ANSES). And the evidence gathered in the 15.4.19 opinion convinced the transalpine government to ban its use in the country, where E171 has been banned since 1.1.20.
Public health first
Attempts to extend the same protection granted to the French is a cause for lively political confrontation, where industry through the European Commission is pressing for continued use of TiO2. But the Europarliament is not letting up and scores a point with theapproval of its ENVI Commission’smotion for resolution 7.9.20. Public health is worth more than the bright whiteness of a pill or toothpaste.
‘The European Parliament should ban titanium dioxide. We cannot put Europeans at risk; health is priceless. Voting for this resolution means voting for the precautionary principle; it also means fulfilling our role as MEPs to ensure the general interest and respect for citizens’ rights. Citizens’ health is in danger, it is up to us to end the threat’. (Eric Andrieu, French MEP, 3)
Notes
(1) The resolution was passed with 51 votes in favor, 11 against and 16 abstentions. Here you can learn the names of MEPs who voted https://www.europarl.europa.eu/cmsdata/211205/2020-09-07-roll-call-votes.pdf
(2) See Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/217 of October 4, 2019 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/IT/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32020R0217&from=FR
(3) See https://www.eric-andrieu.eu/leurope-planche-sur-linterdiction-du-colorant-e171/ and MEP Andrieu’s tweet.
Professional journalist since January 1995, he has worked for newspapers (Il Messaggero, Paese Sera, La Stampa) and periodicals (NumeroUno, Il Salvagente). She is the author of journalistic surveys on food, she has published the book "Reading labels to know what we eat".
