Cakes, Candy : Warning on nanoparticles

Nanoparticles are everywhere today (sunscreens, makeup, Car, refrigerators, etc.) and are increasingly part of the ingredients of the foods we consume. But we are always aware of their presence in food ? Does the nanoparticles are harmful to health ?

Nanoparticles and Nanomaterials

We did, few years ago, one study on nanomaterials and we raised the question of whether they were dangerous or not. We now have some additional answers.

As a reminder, nanomaterials, or nanoparticles, are elements whose diameter is less than 100 nanometers. To produce them, some materials such as silver need to be reduced, silicon, titanium oxide in nanoparticles. On this scale, these present interesting new properties for the industry. They make it possible in particular to act on the color, the taste, the texture or smell of a food.

For desserts, Candy, etc., the titanium dioxide (the dye E171) allows’optimize the whitening aspect for icings and coatings and also helps prevent oxygen and moisture from spoiling the product.

There are also other nanoparticles such as for example’Iron hydroxide (the dye E172) or the Silicon dioxide (anti-caking agent E551).

100 % tested products contained nanoparticles !

60 Millions of Consumers conducted the survey on 18 sweet products (Candy, cakes and frozen desserts) likely to contain nano-particle form of titanium dioxide (E171). The investigation revealed that 100 % products tested contained it !

The mention “nano” should therefore have appeared on their labels, in accordance with the European Inco regulation. Gold, this is not the case. Either the brands are unaware of this presence in the ingredients they use, either they deny the problem…

nanoparticle concentration of examples in the total amount of E171 :

iced cakes Monoprix Gourmet : 100 %
Choco-mix of the mark Milka Oreo : 10 %
M&M’s : 20 %
Neapolitan Lu : 12 %

What would be the danger of nanoparticles ?

Because of their small size, nanoparticles can cross our body protective barriers and that's where the danger is situerait. These nanoparticles cross all physiological barriers and bodies (intestine, skin, heart, fetus…) and accumulate in the liver and in the brain.

An alarming study in rats

L’HANDLES issued a opinion rather alarming on titanium dioxide following a study conducted by’INRA published in January 2017 which lasted four years. This study shows that the food additive E171 (consisting in 45 % of nanoparticles is the equivalent of what humans can ingest) penetrates the wall of the rat's intestine and causes decline in your immune system.

Rats were orally exposed to this substance for 100 days. Researchers find that the immune system is “reached” after a week and “it's at the end of 100 days that we are starting to see toxic effects emerging in animals”.

The results of this experiment showed that 40 % rats had pre-cancerous lesions in the colon at the end of the experiment.

What about the risks for humans in general and children in particular? ? Other studies are underway and suspicions continue to rise around the nanoparticles.

L'ONG Taking action for the environment already urged 2016 to apply the precautionary principle (like Bisphenol A or GMOs) and established a list over 300 food contains or may contain hazardous nanoparticles for health : But where the nanoparticles are hiding ?

Also find a list with the different food additives comprising a toxicity index : Food additives

For more information on nanomaterials : Are nanomaterials dangerous ?