Marlow candies are safe to consume. Titanium Dioxide in it is an approved ingredient.

People are worried about chemicals added to food and other products we consume. Recently, social media users have been talking about Titanium Dioxide, a chemical used in food, after discovering it in a popular gummy candy called Marlow.

Users are claiming that Titanium Dioxide is an additive which is highly carcinogenic and also affects the reproductive health when consumed. 

However, Fact Crescendo found the claim to be misleading. Titanium Dioxide is an additive approved by FDA, WHO and other food safety regulatory bodies.

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Fact Check- 

A recent video revealed that Marlow Sour Gummi Banana contains Titanium Dioxide, sparking concerns among consumers. But is this ingredient actually harmful? Let’s take a closer look.

What is Titanium Dioxide? 

Titanium Dioxide (TiO₂) is a naturally occurring inorganic material that is mined from the earth and then processed and refined before it is used. It exists as a white and powdery solid substance. It is used as a white pigment for paints, in the food industry as a coloring agent, in sunscreens and cosmetics. It is also used by pharmaceutical companies for manufacturing gelatin capsules, tablet coatings and syrups.

During our research, we found that The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) reviewed scientific evidence and found that titanium dioxide (TiO₂) particles may cause genotoxicity (damage to DNA). Due to this concern, EFSA no longer considers titanium dioxide (E171) safe as a food additive and cannot establish a safe daily intake. However, this evaluation applies only to its use in food and not to other applications.

In 2022, the Court of Justice of the European Union overturned the European Commission’s decision to classify titanium dioxide (TiO₂) as a possible carcinogen. The court found that the scientific study used to support the classification was flawed because it did not consider how TiO₂ particles tend to clump together and how it affects their behavior in the lungs. Additionally, the court ruled that titanium dioxide does not naturally cause cancer. The risk only arises in specific situations when large amounts of fine particles are inhaled. Due to these errors, the court found the classification to be wrong and chose to cancel it.

According to the National Library of Medicine, titanium dioxide (E171) is widely used in the food industry as an additive to enhance whiteness and texture. It is also found in oral medicines and is considered safe and non-toxic in small amounts. However, despite its common use in food and medicine, there is limited information on how tiny TiO₂ particles affect the body or where they go after ingestion.

On 24 November 2023, World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) released an assessment of the health impacts of titanium dioxide. According to the report, TiO₂ is poorly absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract. JECFA found no evidence of carcinogenic, reproductive, or developmental toxicity effects from long-term exposure to TiO₂.

We found that the US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has allowed the use of titanium dioxide as a color additive in foods according to the specifications and conditions. According to FDA regulations the quantity of titanium dioxide should not exceed 1% by weight of the food. You can read the details here.

Conclusion: 

Fact Crescendo found the claim to be misleading. According to the food regulatory bodies Titanium Dioxide is not harmful if consumed within limits. Marlow Sour Gummi Bites are safe for consumption and do not lead to cancer or reproductive health issues.