Oman bans the use of E171 in food products
Published: 08:01 AM,Jan 21,2023 | EDITED : 12:01 PM,Jan 21,2023
Muscat: The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources has issued a ministerial resolution - 11/2023 amending some provisions of the Food Safety Regulations.
As per the decision, a new item was added to the violations and administrative fines related to food safety, which is the imposition of an administrative fine of RO 1,000 for the production, import, or marketing of food products to which titanium dioxide (E171) is added.
This decision shall come into effect 6 months after the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
What is titanium dioxide?
Titanium dioxide is used as a food color (E171) to make food more visually appealing, to give color to food that would otherwise be colorless, or to restore the original appearance of food. Titanium dioxide is also present in cosmetics, paints, and medicines.
The main food categories with exposure to E171 are fine bakery wares, soups, broths, and sauces (for infants, toddlers, and adolescents); and soups, broths, sauces, salads, savory-based sandwich spreads and processed nuts.
As per the decision, a new item was added to the violations and administrative fines related to food safety, which is the imposition of an administrative fine of RO 1,000 for the production, import, or marketing of food products to which titanium dioxide (E171) is added.
This decision shall come into effect 6 months after the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
What is titanium dioxide?
Titanium dioxide is used as a food color (E171) to make food more visually appealing, to give color to food that would otherwise be colorless, or to restore the original appearance of food. Titanium dioxide is also present in cosmetics, paints, and medicines.
The main food categories with exposure to E171 are fine bakery wares, soups, broths, and sauces (for infants, toddlers, and adolescents); and soups, broths, sauces, salads, savory-based sandwich spreads and processed nuts.