The ban is just the latest chapter in a long-running debate on the safety of widespread food additives known as nanoparticles, which are largely unregulated in the US. Due to safety concerns, some scientists who have studied nanoparticles say they would have reservations about eating food that contains the technology. Health effects from titanium dioxide observed in the lab were particularly acute in young animals, which is a concern given that children are especially exposed to it through candies, chewing gum and desserts. Reached for comment, the Food and Drug Administration says “there are no specific provisions in the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act that deal with nanomaterials in food”. In speaking with the Guardian, several researchers expressed concern that 20 to 30 years from now, we will realise that some nanoparticles do indeed have long-term health effects.

Source: The Guardian May 29, 2019 06:00 UTC