Food alert on chemical risk in Italy

The Italian Ministry of Health has announced the immediate withdrawal from the sale of a batch of a food supplement due to the potential for chemical risk to consumers, as a result of the product’s inclusion of titanium dioxide. The Ministry of Health has issued a cautionary advisory, recommending that the product should not be consumed and that the packaging should be returned to the point of purchase. Titanium dioxide is a food additive (E171) used for decades in the food industry. However, it was banned by the European Commission in January 2022 for use in food, supplements, and animal feed. The decision was taken following the conclusion of studies conducted by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in 2021, which indicated the potential for genotoxicity.