E171 and Co.

E171 und Co.

Guest

7 years ago

This topic must not be particularly popular at Migros. It's about additives. More precisely, the colorant titanium dioxide, also known as E 171 and CI 77891. This colorant is also used in products that Migros sells and/or manufactures.

Chewing gums with titanium dioxide (non-exhaustive list):

Food supplements with titanium dioxide (non-exhaustive list):

Toothpaste with titanium dioxide (non-exhaustive list):

The technical applications of titanium dioxide, which account for around 80 percent of total consumption, include paints and varnishes, plastics and textiles; it is also used in paper production to achieve a high degree of whiteness and as a UV blocker in sun creams and brightener in medicines.

This dye is therefore widely used.

Is this dye harmless to health? Here are a few media reports:

Current search: Google news search for titanium dioxide

Further links on titanium dioxide:

UZH - Media - Titanium dioxide nanoparticles can increase intestinal inflammation: http://www.media.uzh.ch/de/medienmitteilungen/2017/Titandioxid-Nanopartikel-Darmentzuendungen.html

And finally, Wikipedia: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titan(IV) oxide

This is just one colorant from the whole range of additives. However, supermarket "foods" are full of many different ones. Whether such foods are harmless to health or can even be held responsible for many diseases is something that everyone can decide for themselves. For my part, however, I have long since lost confidence in industrial food production!

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All replies (23)

M-Infoline

7 years ago

Hello Peter_Frey

It is true that titanium dioxide is used as a white pigment in toothpastes, foods and cosmetics, but usually not in the size of nanoparticles.

The particles used must be significantly larger than on the nanoscale so that the light is refracted accordingly and toothpaste, for example, appears white. Titanium dioxide on the nanoscale is invisible. In this function, titanium dioxide is approved by the Federal Office of Public Health for use in foodstuffs and is not dangerous. The additive appears as a colorant in the composition of foodstuffs with the additional number E171, in cosmetics it is declared with the color index CI 77891 under "Ingredients". It is also used here as a white pigment.

We can add this to the 20min article: Mibelle (like almost all toothpaste manufacturers) uses titanium dioxide as colorant CI 77891 in toothpastes. As the substance CI 77891 used in toothpaste is a colorant and not nano-titanium dioxide, the statements made in current media reports cannot be applied directly to toothpaste and therefore to cosmetics in general.

With the statement "Inhaling the substance is carcinogenic", 20 min compares titanium dioxide with asbestos. However, "substance" here refers to titanium dioxide in nano form and not the colorant titanium dioxide (CI 77891). CI 77891 is harmless and there is no reason to replace it. Toothpaste is therefore not suspected of causing cancer. In cosmetics that can be inhaled, such as sprays, nano-titanium dioxide is accordingly prohibited. However, toothpaste (as well as sunscreen lotions etc.) is not inhaled.

In all products that cannot enter the lungs, nano-titanium dioxide is harmless, as the EU SCCS scientific committee has confirmed on several occasions.

Titanium dioxide is only used as a nanoparticle in sun cream. In sun cream, nanoscale titanium dioxide is used as a physical sunscreen. Due to the small size of the pigments, the cream does not appear white on the skin; the cream is transparent on the skin. The incident sunlight is reflected by the particles like a mirror. The skin is protected from harmful UV radiation. The use of sometimes controversial chemical UV filters can thus be reduced or avoided. The titanium dioxide particles thus provide efficient protection against skin ageing and skin cancer.

The European Union requires that cosmetic products with synthetic nanoparticles must carry the label "(nano)" in the list of ingredients. Migros has already adopted the European requirements for its own brands. Cosmetics with nanotechnology from Migros own brands are recognizable in their composition. We expect Swiss legislation to be amended in this regard. The products are therefore safe and can be used safely.

Kind regards, Miriam

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M-Infoline

6 years ago

Hello @Bodenseeknusperli, thank you for your contribution. Additives such as titanium dioxide (E 171) are among the most studied substances in our food and are only approved once strict toxicological tests have proven their harmlessness. Various bodies are responsible for the safety assessment and possible applications of additives, including the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JEFCA) of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). In Switzerland, the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) regulates the use of additives. The permitted substances (positive list) and their possible applications are set out in the Additives Ordinance. Migros always complies with the instructions of the authorities regarding the possible uses of additives. Kind regards, Heidi

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M-Infoline

6 years ago

Hi @Bodenseeknusperli, there are indeed different approvals of additives in certain countries. However, these are usually due to different lifestyles and eating habits and not to the health assessment of a substance. As the use of additives in Switzerland is regulated by the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO), we will be happy to provide you with the contact details for further questions on the permissibility of titanium dioxide (E 171): info@blv.admin.ch / +41 58 463 30 33. Kind regards, Heidi

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bioNatura

6 years ago

Dear Migros, there are users on this platform who are blocked after 2-3 questioning posts. Let's see how long I can move freely.

On the subject of E-171:
Unfortunately, I have to agree with the critical voices. Just because health authorities still consider the substance to be harmless does not mean that the issue has to be put into perspective. There are alternatives to this dye that are less harmful and I actually expect Migros to think for its customers and discuss alternatives with its suppliers.

And if it says organic and Natura, I certainly don't expect any such additives in the product - that's obvious, isn't it?

It's a D I O X I D, so what's unclear? It doesn't belong in foods / luxury foods / everyday cleaning products that we consume daily or that come into contact with our skin, such as chewing gum and toothpaste, shampoo, and certainly not in children's products - it's as simple as that.

And only for cosmetic reasons, even though there are alternatives in some cases.

I actually expect more from you - am I wrong? Specifically, that Migros should look for alternatives, much more actively. Migros is the sympathetic big player in Switzerland - if you can't educate the producers (and some of you are producers yourselves), then who can? Until they move voluntarily...

Yours sincerely, a customer in his mid-40s who has been with us for decades and doesn't like quick and easy answers.

*We are aware of the potential health risks, are monitoring the research and the market and are working on an alternative - is a good comment in response to an e-ingredient query.

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M-Infoline

6 years ago

Hello bioNatura, thank you for your contribution. There are various reasons why we block users. Without knowing the names of the users or the posts which, according to you, have made very critical comments, I cannot comment on this insinuation.

Regarding your request - we have already given some answers on this topic above, but I will answer you again in detail here.

Titanium dioxide (E 171) is a bright white pigment that can be used to color food. For food coloring, E 171 is used in macro form and not as nanoparticles. The typical particle size is 40-200 micrometers; nanoparticles, on the other hand, are typically 1-100 nanometers in size, i.e. a thousand times smaller. Titanium oxide in macro form is excreted unchanged in the stool and is considered harmless to health.

Titanium dioxide was re-evaluated by the EFSA (the European Food Safety Authority) in September 2016; no indications of a health risk to consumers were found. The assessment was confirmed by EFSA in June 2018 and April 2019 following the evaluation of new studies. Accordingly, the Swiss Additives Ordinance lists E171 as a permitted colorant that can be used in many food categories without a maximum quantity restriction. Due to its legal permissibility and safety, which is proven by strict toxicological tests, Migros sees no reason to do without this colorant.

There are indeed different approvals for additives in certain countries. However, these are usually due to different lifestyles and eating habits and not to the health assessment of a substance. As the use of additives in Switzerland is regulated by the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO), we will be happy to provide you with the contact details for further questions on the permissibility of titanium dioxide (E 171): info@blv.admin.ch / +41 58 463 30 33.

Kind regards, Sina

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bioNatura

6 years ago

Hello Sina from Migipedia

Thank you very much for your statement. The condemnation of my observation as an insinuation did surprise me somewhat, as it is not respectful and not very constructive. And this despite the fact that you demand respectful and constructive interaction here, and rightly so of course. Drinking wine and preaching water is never a good idea, not even here.

I can actually just leave your statement as it is, it speaks volumes - and not in your favor, unfortunately.

So dear Sina, before you comment even deeper into irrelevance, I'll stop it and wish you and your social media team a great day :-))

Greetings from a grillitarian

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M-Infoline

6 years ago

Hello @bioNatura, you're absolutely right. My choice of words yesterday was incorrect - I must have got up on the wrong side of the bed. I apologize for my language.

Have a nice weekend too. It literally invites you to have a barbecue :-). Best regards, Sina

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M-Infoline

6 years ago

Hello everyone

Thank you for your contributions. I have discussed this with our nutritionists. Titanium dioxide (E171) is a bright white pigment that is used to color food, among other things. Titanium dioxide is found, for example, in chewing gum, edible decorative items, etc. For food coloring, E 171 is used in macro form and not as nanoparticles. The typical particle size is 40-200 micrometers; nanoparticles, on the other hand, are typically 1-100 nanometers in size, i.e. a thousand times smaller. Titanium oxide in macro form is considered harmless to health.

Titanium dioxide is excreted unchanged in the stool. Titanium dioxide was re-evaluated by the EFSA (the European Food Safety Authority) in September 2016; no indications of a health risk to consumers were found. The assessment was confirmed by EFSA in June 2018 and April 2019 following the evaluation of new studies. Accordingly, the Swiss Additives Ordinance lists E171 as a permitted colorant that can be used in many food categories without a maximum quantity restriction.

Migros is closely following the debate on the use of titanium dioxide and is examining alternatives. In order to meet customer demand for titanium dioxide-free products, Chocolat Frey, for example, already offers a partial range without titanium dioxide and is continuing to develop alternatives.

Kind regards

Tamara

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M-Infoline

6 years ago

Hello @Bodensseknusperli

Please excuse me. I actually overlooked the date of the first post. As I understand it, Chocolate Frey already offers alternatives and is looking for more, as they have recognized the needs of our customers. If you like, I can find out more from the product managers or is that enough for you?

Kind regards

Tamara

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bioNatura

6 years ago

That's great news, thank you very much.

I think it's very good that you let the customers have their say and not only appreciate praise from the fans but also take our concerns seriously. An M-better than the Mti competitors - well done and well communicated :-))

Greetings from eastern Switzerland.

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