Viridian Nutrition is calling on UK health authorities to immediately ban titanium dioxide, a food additive widely used in food, food supplements and medicines, amid safety concerns.
In May this year the European Food Standards Authority (EFSA) ruled the additive unsafe for routine use in food supplements due to genotoxic links and long-term effects arising from its accumulation in the body.
Explaining its decision, Professor Maged Younes, chair of EFSA’s expert panel on Food Additives and Flavourings (FAF), said: “Taking into account all available scientific studies and data, the Panel concluded that titanium dioxide can no longer be considered safe as a food additive. A critical element in reaching this conclusion is that we could not exclude genotoxicity concerns after consumption of titanium dioxide particles. After oral ingestion, the absorption of titanium dioxide particles is low, however they can accumulate in the body.”
Viridian is writing to the UK Government to take immediate action to prohibit the commonly used substance also known as E171 in foods, and initiate an investigation into other additives in food supplements and medicines. The company does not use titanium dioxide in any of its supplements.
Cheryl Thallon, Viridian founder and MD, said: “Titanium dioxide has no health benefit and is potential unhealthy. It certainly should not be added into foods, prescription medicines or food supplements. The public must be able to trust in the safety of them”.
“We encourage health food stores to take a closer look at their product ranges and offer alternatives without titanium dioxide“
She added: “We encourage health food stores to take a closer look at their product ranges and offer alternatives without titanium dioxide. Viridian has long-adopted the ‘say no to titanium dioxide’ stance to its supplement and topical ranges.”
Environmental expert and author Dr Jenny Goodman, of Staying Alive in Toxic Times, is joining Viridian’s call to ban titanium dioxide. Medical doctor and speaker Dr Goodman, said: “Over the last 20 years, I have seen environmental toxins making many people really ill. It is doubly shocking to see toxic substances like titanium dioxide put into foods and nutritional supplements, which should be all about maintaining health.
“It should also be removed at once from sunscreens and cosmetics. We need to take action to help us live long, healthy and vibrant lives, and eliminating titanium dioxide and other poisonous additives will be a key step. It serves no purpose at all except to dye things white!”
