E171 additive used in sweets and cakes not safe - EU food watchdog

The European Commission, as we as individual EU member countries will now have to decide whether or not to ban the E171 additive. Picture: PA

The EU's food safety watchdog has said a food additive used commonly as a whitening agent in sweets, chewing gum, white sauces and cake icing is no longer safe for consumption.

The widely used artificial food colouring, known as E171 on food labels contains nanoparticles of titanium dioxide and is commonly used in consumer products.