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Key Takeaways
Does a particular ingredient make Skittles unfit for human consumption?
Thats what plaintiff Jenile Thames is claiming in a class action lawsuit filed against Mars Corporation earlier this month.
Titanium oxide is what makes Skittles shiny.
Yuriko Nakao / Getty Images
It has the same effect on paint.
Naturally, candy lovers and parents of candy-loving children are now in a tizzy over these allegations.
Is our beloved rainbow-colored candy truly toxic and unsafe for human consumption?
Or is the level of titanium dioxide negligible and not something to worry about?
We turned to some experts to get to the bottom of it.
What Is Titanium Dioxide?
Perhaps you havent heard of titanium dioxide before.
Titanium dioxide is used as a food pigment and anti-caking agent.
Titanium dioxide is also used extensively in many commercial products, including paint, plastics, and paper.
Rather, it cannot rule out the possibility of this occurring.
Wondering if your food contains titanium dioxide?
Check the ingredient list on the food label.
Do We Need to Avoid Titanium Dioxide?
But experts encourage people to take a deep breath.
Eliminating the compound from your diet is probably unnecessary.
Wallace added that certain compounds can be toxic to animals and not humans.
Titanium dioxide has a long history of safe use.
Weve been consuming it for decadesif not over a hundred years, Wallace said.
In fact, its a go-to stocking stuffer for her husband each Christmas.
Nobody is eating candy expecting it to provide nutritional benefits.
Just limit your consumption and do your best to eat a nutritious diet otherwise.
Chen T, Yan J, Li Y.Genotoxicity of titanium dioxide nanoparticles.J Food Drug Anal.
2021;19(5):e06585.
