A few days ago, it was banned to use the additive titanium dioxide in foodstuffs in Norway and the EU, following a risk assessment by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). The additive has until now been used as a coloring agent in everyday products such as sweets, cake decorations, dressings and chewing gum in Norwegian shops. The report states that the substance can damage DNA, which can then be carcinogenic. Nevertheless, it is still permitted to use titanium dioxide in medicines, including in Paracet and Ibux. Experts disagree on whether this should be legal or not. – No proven health damage The Norwegian Medicines Agency’s answer is that the amount of titanium dioxide in medicines is much smaller than what you get through the diet, and is less harmful in small amounts. – Titanium dioxide has been used in hundreds of medicines for several decades, without any evidence of health damage, says Sigurd Hortemo, senior physician at the department of medical advice in the Norwegian Medicines Agency. – The ban on using it in food is a “precautionary decision” that has been made because you cannot completely rule out damage to health. It is feared that particles with titanium dioxide can cause breaks in the DNA strand, and that this in turn can lead to disturbances when cells divide, he says. It has not been proven that titanium dioxide causes disease, nor does EFSA claim this, he says. – But EFSA has concluded that it cannot be ruled out that titanium dioxide can damage DNA, says Hortemo. This is titanium dioxide The additive titanium dioxide is used, among other things, to give a white color to products such as paint, paper and toothpaste. , glaze, cake, dressing and chewing gum It is also used in products such as sunscreen and nicotine chewing gum Titanium dioxide is a white powder that is made from stone that contains the substance titanium It is often listed as titanium dioxide, titanium dioxide, E 171 or CI 77891 on the ingredient list In 2021 the EU’s food safety body EFSA concluded that it can no longer be considered safe to use in food – Just as dangerous in medicine as in food In Norway, titanium dioxide is used in over 700 medicines. It is used to give a white colour, in addition to protecting against UV rays which can penetrate and break down the active ingredients. The substance is found, among other things, in over-the-counter products such as Paracet, Ibux and Viagra. Magasinet Vi discussed EFSA’s conclusion earlier this summer. Tore Midvedt, specialist in medical microbiology, believes that its use should be banned in the same way as in food. – There is no doubt that titanium dioxide in medicine is just as dangerous as in food, he says. KNIGHT: In 2018, Tore Midvtedt was appointed knight 1st class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav for his efforts in medical microbiology. As early as 1967, he wrote about the importance of intestinal flora. Photo: Karolinska Institutet Although the quantity of the substance is smaller in medicines, the concentration of titanium dioxide locally in the intestine can be high, according to the professor. It can have a harmful effect on the cells that are dividing, and potentially lead to cancer. Will phase out in medicine too – but may take ten years The EU and EMA are now working together to assess whether it is useful and possible to phase out titanium dioxide in medicines, states the Norwegian Medicines Agency. But no good enough alternatives have been found that can replace titanium dioxide’s properties in medicines, says Hortemo. – In this situation, we have to weigh a small, potential risk related to the use of titanium dioxide against the major health problems that could arise if we did as the food authorities did and instructed the pharmaceutical companies to phase out titanium dioxide within a couple of years. You must also avoid a shortage of medicines if you change production, he says. EMA has concluded that if a change is decided upon, it will take at least 10 years to implement the change. – Our advice to patients is to continue with the medicines that the doctors think they should use to prevent or treat illness. – A scandal The EFSA report also shows that the additive can lead to inflammation of the intestine. 40,000 Norwegians struggle with inflammatory bowel diseases. – I believe that it is not ethically correct to use this in medicines. Intestinal problems cause a great deal of trouble, but are very low priority, says nutritional biologist Marit Kolby. PRECAUTION: Marit Kolby believes it is wrong that we do not maintain the “precautionary principle” when it comes to medicines. Photo: Oslo Nye Høyskole Kolby reacts to the pharmaceutical authorities having done no more. – It is very problematic that it is still allowed. It is a scandal that they did not react as soon as the report came, says Kolby. – What happens when they take a long time is that the users and patients have to bear the brunt of it. We must be sure that it is not harmful before it is used, she says.
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The additive is now banned in food – but still allowed in Paracet and Ibux
