Dunkin’ Donuts recently announced that they will be eliminating titanium dioxide a whitening agent that is used in sunscreen, from its powdered sugar donuts. But what is titanium dioxide and why is it in your food and cosmetics?

Titanium dioxide has actually been around for decades The FDA does not require titanium dioxide to be labeled on food products that contain up to 1% of food products of this ingredient. Do you consume a whey-based protein drink? Rolled oats? Processed meat or poultry? Then chances are you will be eating a little titanium dioxide. The issue is if a little is allowed in a wide variety of foods, do we know what the effect is on our bodies?

The short answer is sort of. Researchers do know that powders such as titanium dioxide become more toxic the smaller the particles are. Since titanium dioxide is a ‘nanoparticle’, it has raised a flag for health advocacy agencies.

FDA spokesperson Marianna Naum, states “No science demonstrates or implies that FDA-regulated products that involve the use of nanotechnology, including food ingredients, are intrinsically safe or harmful. Rather, the agency considers the specific characteristics of the product in question.”

Some research indicates that titanium dioxide can be harmful if inhaled, but ingesting it does not pose as large of a problem, while other research indicates that some people may have issues with dermal and dental applications (as in makeup and dental implants) that can manifest as allergies.

But what about ingesting it? An article published in Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, states that after 45 years, few scientific research reports have provided truly reliable data. This article notes that studies have observed that titanium dioxide can pass and be absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract and can bioconcentrate, bioaccumulate and biomagnify in the tissues of mammals. They recommend that the FDA establishes an acceptable maximum daily intake of titanium dioxide as a precautionary measure.

There are so many great organic foods and supplements that do not contain titanium dioxide, so if you are at all concerned, why risk it?