Titanium Dioxide And Beta Carotene

Titanium dioxide is a white mineral pigment, processed into a fine powder. Beta carotene is a red-orange pigment found naturally in many plants, which can also be produced synthetically.

This combination is used to provide white and yellow-orange coloring to foods, often to achieve specific shades or to brighten products. Titanium dioxide serves as a whitening and opacifying agent, while beta carotene adds yellow to orange hues. They are commonly found in baked goods like cakes, cupcakes, and snack cakes.

Titanium dioxide is permitted by the FDA as a food additive. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) concluded in 2021 that titanium dioxide could no longer be considered safe as a food additive, leading to its ban in the EU in 2022, though it remains permitted in the US and is not part of the FDA's announced phase-out of petroleum-based synthetic dyes. Beta carotene is an FDA-approved color additive and a precursor to Vitamin A; JECFA has evaluated it and set an acceptable daily intake.