Is titanium dioxide used as a food colour?

TUSHAR DOSHI, India

In the European Union Titanium Dioxide (E171) is listed in Annex I of Directive 94/36/EEC as a permitted colour in foodstuffs. It is presumed as safe. Titanium dioxide is extracted from the naturally occurring mineral ilmenite (named after the Ilmen Mountains in Russia), a heavy, iron-black metallic oxide mineral, composed of iron and titanium oxide.

It can be found in tablets and capsules, cottage and mozzarella cheeses, horseradish cream and sauces, lemon curd and sweets, where it is often used to provide a barrier between different colours. It is also used to increase opacity in some sauces.