Titanium dioxide levels and particle sizes in foods
What it found
Titanium dioxide was found in sweets, chewing gum, chocolate and white foods at levels from 3 to 2400 mg per kg, with particles sized 30 to 410 nm.
This was a lab analysis of food samples, not a study in people.
What they found
Levels in foods
Titanium dioxide concentrations in the tested foods ranged from 3 to 2400 mg per kg.
Particle sizes
The titanium dioxide particles in the foods ranged in size from 30 to 410 nm.
Foods tested
The foods checked were confectionery, chewing gum, chocolates and white coloured foods.
Labels and amounts
Packaging lists E171 in the ingredients but gives no information on how much is used.
What the authors conclude
“Therefore, determination of TiO 2 content of foods is extremely important for human health.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say that determining the titanium dioxide content of foods is extremely important for human health.
How it was done
Food labels list E171 as an ingredient but do not say how much is used, so the authors say measuring titanium dioxide in foods matters for human health.
They tested confectionery, chewing gum, chocolate and white coloured foods. Titanium dioxide levels were measured with inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry, and particle sizes with transmission electron microscopy.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This was a lab analysis of food samples. It did not test what titanium dioxide does in the body.
- It cannot show whether eating these foods affects health.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Mustafa Kemal University, Turkey
The paper
- Title
- Determination of titanium dioxide nanoparticles used in various foods
- Type
- Study
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Sungur Ş, Kaya P, Koroglu M (2020). Determination of titanium dioxide nanoparticles used in various foods. Food additives & contaminants. Part B, Surveillance. doi:10.1080/19393210.2020.1769193PubMed 32456558DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error