Hold the titanium dioxide, please | Michigan Today

Hold the Titanium Dioxide, please | Michigan Today

More and more data illustrate the deleterious effects processed and ultra-processed foods have on human health. It is a chore to keep pace with the research that continues to pile up. These findings emphasize the need to limit the amount of ultra-processed foods (UPF) consumed.

Do not trust the process

I've written several Health Yourself columns for Michigan Today, warning against the excessive intake of processed and ultra-processed foods. Limiting UPF is essential for optimal health. The quantity of UPF Americans consume is increasing. Data from the U.S. federal government showed the proportion of UPF in Americans' diet grew from 53.5% of calories in 2001-02 to 57% in 2017-18, while the consumption of whole foods fell from 33% to 27% of calories, primarily due to eating fewer fruits and vegetables.

Health Risks Associated with UPF

In one study examining dietary records of over 100,000 French adults for five years, higher UPF consumption was linked to increased risks of cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, and cerebrovascular disease. Another large-scale study found a correlation between high UPF consumption and a higher risk of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and vascular dementia over a median follow-up period of 10 years.

Identifying Unprocessed, Processed, and Ultra-Processed Foods

Identifying processed and ultra-processed foods might seem easy, but it is challenging to precisely determine what specific chemicals in different UPFs are causing inflammation and disease. Labeling requirements are often not enforced or are misleading. Manufacturers might list vague terms like "color added" or "emulsifiers" instead of specifying the chemicals used.

Categories of Foods

• Unprocessed or minimally processed: Whole foods with their vitamins and nutrients intact, consumed in their natural state. Examples include vegetables, fruits, grains, meat, and dairy.
• Processed: Foods made by adding salt, oil, sugar, or other substances. Most processed foods have two or three added ingredients. Examples include cheese, canned fish, and canned beans.
• Processed culinary ingredients: Substances obtained directly from nature or from processed or minimally processed foods by pressing, refining, grinding, milling, or spray drying. Examples include vegetable oils, butter, sugar, salt, and molasses.
• Highly processed or ultra-processed: Foods made mostly from substances extracted from other foods, such as fats, starches, added sugars, and hydrogenated fats. They may also contain additives like artificial colors and flavors or stabilizers. Examples include soft drinks, chips, chocolate, candy, ice-cream, sweetened breakfast cereals, packaged soups, chicken nuggets, hotdogs, and French fries.

Examples of High-UPF Foods

Here are three examples from thousands of highly processed foods containing artificial ingredients not listed on the food label:

Food Club Fat-Free Sour Cream

Listed Ingredients: Grade-A skim milk, modified corn starch, propylene glycol monoester, xanthan gum, cellulose gel, less than 2%: natural flavoring, vitamin A, cultures, enzymes.

Market Pantry Light Ranch Dressing

Listed Ingredients: Soybean oil, water, sugar, maltodextrin, buttermilk, contains less than 2% of salt, distilled vinegar, egg yolk, modified food starch, phosphoric acid, spices, dried garlic, dried onion, natural flavors (contain milk), disodium phosphate, xanthan gum, monosodium glutamate, disodium inosinate, disodium guanylate, potassium sorbate (a preservative), calcium disodium EDTA to protect flavor.

Totino's Pepperoni Pizza Rolls

Listed Ingredients: Enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, ferrous sulfate, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), tomato puree (water, tomato paste), water, pepperoni seasoned pork, chicken and beef pizza topping (pork, mechanically separated chicken, water, soy protein isolate, beef, salt), imitation mozzarella cheese, vegetable oil, and many more. Contains artificial color additives like titanium dioxide.

Titanium Dioxide (TiO2, E171)

Titanium dioxide (TiO2, E171) is used as a white pigment in sunscreens, cosmetics, paints, plastics, and foods. It's a color additive, anti-caking agent, and whitener, found in items such as chewing gums, baked goods, salad dressings, and dairy products. Sweet treats and candies also contain E171 significantly. A recent report from European Food Safety regulators indicates that E171 is "not safe for human consumption", yet the U.S. has not addressed this issue. A class-action lawsuit against Mars Inc. claims that the company committed to phasing out E171 from its products but continues to use it.

European Union Bans Titanium Dioxide in Food

Studies since the 1960s have raised doubts about E171's safety. A 2015 review found that E171 could absorb into the bloodstream, bypassing earlier research claims. It could accumulate and damage organs like the spleen, liver, and kidneys, increasing risks of intestinal inflammation, cancer, and immune-system damage. The European Food Safety Authority, after reviewing scientific literature, decided to ban E171 in all foods.

How to Avoid E171?

The best way to limit E171 and other toxins in food is to select and eat whole foods that don't contain added coloring or unnecessary chemicals. Opt for nutrient-rich foods primarily from plants that are rarely processed or contain additives. Avoid eating foods with labels indicating "additives or coloring agents" and choose fresh fruits, vegetables, and nuts instead.

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