Extensive monitoring campaigns carried out by the Egyptian authorities have sparked panic among citizens after large quantities of titanium dioxide, used to adulterate and bleach sugarcane juice, were seized in several governorates.
During a series of campaigns by the Consumer Protection Agency, the Ministry of Supply and the National Food Safety Authority, the use of the substance was observed inside sugarcane juice shops to maintain an attractive white color and prevent its natural color from changing to black due to oxidation, which is a form of commercial fraud against consumers.
The committees seized quantities of the substance inside some shops, some of which were expired. The regulatory authorities confirmed that the substance is not authorized to be used in this way in food, and poses a potential risk to public health.
The regulatory reports showed that some shop owners use this chemical in varying quantities to maintain the attractive white color of sugarcane juice for as long as possible, as the natural juice oxidizes quickly and turns dark, reducing its commercial appeal.
Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) is a white chemical compound traditionally used as a bleaching and coloring agent in industries such as paints, cosmetics and plastics, and in the food industry to improve the appearance of some products.
controversy due to concerns about genotoxicity and its ability to damage DNA. In 2021, the European Food Safety Authority concluded that it "can no longer be considered safe" as a food additive, prompting the European Union to ban its use in food as of February 2022.
Other countries, such as Germany, Syria, Jordan, and Yemen, have also banned its use in food products, after studies indicated that nanoparticles of the substance may accumulate in the body, raising concerns about inflammation, intestinal disorders, or long-term risks.
In Egypt, the National Food Safety Authority confirmed that the use of titanium dioxide in fresh juices is not legally permitted, and stressed that it will continue to intensify inspection campaigns and take deterrent legal measures against violators.
She urged citizens to be extremely careful and not to buy juices from unlicensed shops or those where practices appear unhealthy, noting that natural juice should gradually change color immediately after squeezing the sugarcane.
The seizure of large quantities of the chemical in juice shops has sparked general concern among citizens who consume sugarcane juice in large quantities during the summer, with repeated calls to be cautious and to buy drinks from reliable and licensed sources.
