The FDA has not updated its general guidance on safety assessments since 2007. Within that time, there has been a significant increase in research on the confluence of toxicology, nanotechnology and human health. The EU updates its guidance regularly with new science available to offer proper safety assessments, with its most recent update published in 2021.
The wholesale TiO2 market is also influenced by factors such as fluctuating raw material prices, supply chain disruptions, and changing consumer preferences. These factors can impact the production costs and availability of TiO2, leading to fluctuations in market prices and supply dynamics.
Moreover, TIO2's ability to generate hydrogen from water when exposed to light offers exciting prospects for sustainable energy production within factory walls
Analyst Insight
A 2012 study published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology noted that children are especially exposed to titanium dioxide because of the food that contains the food additive and is particularly marketed to children, including candy and cakes.
Titanium dioxide is typically micronized and coated for use in cosmetics products. The micronizing makes this somewhat heavy-feeling ingredient easier to spread on skin, plus a bit more cosmetically elegant. Micronized titanium dioxide is much more stable and can provide better sun protection than non-micronized titanium dioxide.
There are two primary forms of titanium dioxide commercially available: anatase and rutile. The rutile form is typically used in sunscreens due to its superior ability to handle UV rays and stability in the presence of UV light. The anatase form is typically used in other types of products, such as paint. Another plus of the rutile form is that its UVA protection extends past 400 nanometers, which is the upper limit of UVA.
The cost factor is another critical consideration for buyersRecent analyses of food-grade TiO2 samples have found that a significant portion of particles may be within the nanoscale. These particles (also known as nanoparticles) range in size from 1 to 100 nm, where 1 nm equals 1 billionth of a metre (the width of a typical human hair is 80,000 to 100,000 nm).
To meet the growing demand for TiO2, manufacturers are exploring new technologies and processes to optimize production. One such technology is the use of fluidized bed reactors, which allow for more efficient heat and mass transfer, resulting in higher production rates and lower energy consumption One such technology is the use of fluidized bed reactors, which allow for more efficient heat and mass transfer, resulting in higher production rates and lower energy consumption
This study & others have lead France to ban Titanium Dioxide as a Food Additive.
In a statement sent to USA TODAY on Sunday, Justin Comes, vice president of research and development for Skittles maker Mars Wrigley North America, said the company couldn't comment on pending litigation – but that its use of titanium dioxide and all Mars Wrigley ingredients are safe and manufactured in compliance with strict quality and safety requirements established by food safety regulators, including the FDA.