E171, otherwise known as titanium dioxide, is a food colouring used to make products look brighter or whiter. It's found in white chocolate, sandwich spreads, soups, and numerous other food stuffs. It can also be found in medicines, paints and cosmetics.

Question marks have surrounded the additive for a number of years, with the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) declaring E171 as possibly carcinogenic to humans as early as 2006. French authorities banned its use in foods being placed on the French market back in January 2020.

Results from the EFSA's previous assessment of titanium dioxide in 2016, however, were inconclusive and at the time they highlighted the need for more research to fill data gaps.

The EFSA's latest conclusion is based on thousands of new studies carried out since 2016, including assessments using new findings on nanoparticles.

The findings relate only to the use of E171 as a food additive.

Although the EFSA itself makes no ruling on a ban, European member states will meet later this month to discuss the findings and is expected to propose a ban of titanium dioxide throughout the EU.