E171 coloring is found in many products : confectionery, chewing-gums, pastries, soups, cooked meals. This food additive is used for its coloring and opacifying properties.. A study, last May having called into question its safety for health, the States of the European Union have requested a ban on its use in food from 2022. E171 is in fact composed of titanium dioxide particles in powder form.. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) estimated that, if the titanium dioxide particles are in very small quantities, “they can accumulate in the body”. The European Commission followed. Unless the European Parliament objects, the ban on E171 will come into force at the beginning of 2022, with a six-month transition. Note that the pharmaceutical industry, which also uses the E 171, is not currently affected by the ban.
