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  • Titanium Dioxide alternatives - what would you suggest?

    Posted by Herbnerd on May 15, 2019 at 4:09 am

    I have recently started working for a toothpaste manufacturer and one of the first tasks I have been given is to remove titanium dioxide out of toothpaste. The logic is that France has banned titanium dioxide from foods - therefore titanium dioxide will be banned from toothpaste too (I don’t agree with this - but this is marketing directives!). We’ve recently heard from a customer selling toothpaste in Germany wanting to remove titanium dioxide from their products. Also, despite having Sensient supplying us statement to say their material is without nanoparticles - this question comes up often also causing the marketers to want titanium dioxide removed.

    The problem is, we manufacture a propolis toothpaste - and propolis over time darkens. Titanium dioxide seems to limit just how much darkening happens.

    I’ve been told I can’t use zinc oxide, again, because of the public perception of nanoparticles.
    Formula is a basic one - approx. Calcium carbonate 40%, water 25% Glycerol 15%, Sorbitol 70% solution 10%, remainder propolis, flavours, gums, titanium dioxide, SLS, preservatives.

    Any suggestions as to what I could possibly use instead of titanium dioxide?

    JOJO91343 replied 5 years, 3 months ago 4 Members · 9 Replies
  • 9 Replies
  • Dr Catherine Pratt

    Member
    May 16, 2019 at 3:08 pm

    You could use a white clay or emulsifier/white wax

  • Herbnerd

    Member
    May 16, 2019 at 10:43 pm

    @”Dr Catherine Pratt” A white clay such as kaolin? Or do you have a preferred white clay?

  • Dr Catherine Pratt

    Member
    May 17, 2019 at 4:48 am

    Yes I prefer Kaolin clay but there are many to choose from. Hope this helps.

  • Dr Catherine Pratt

    Member
    May 17, 2019 at 5:01 am

    Actually you could add 5 to 10% of bicarb as well.

  • Herbnerd

    Member
    May 20, 2019 at 1:13 am

    @”Dr Catherine Pratt” Thanks for your suggestion. I’ve just had a 25 kg sack of Kaolin (Halloysite) clay dropped from a rep at Axieo.

    I’ll update how I get on - I guess I will need to add more than I used for titanium dioxide.

    Thanks again.

  • Dr Catherine Pratt

    Member
    May 20, 2019 at 2:08 am

    No not necessarily, look why don’t you message me privately 

  • Pharma

    Member
    July 8, 2019 at 9:08 pm

    What about using silica? Dissolve propolis in something, add it to silica and work that into the paste.

  • Dr Catherine Pratt

    Member
    July 9, 2019 at 2:59 am

    Yes of course you can use silica, but I don’t use it as it is not natural, my clients do not want it. What is it you are after? I think they use hydrogenated silica though, not just plain silica powder. Have a look at the ingredients on a tube.

  • JOJO91343

    Member
    August 7, 2019 at 1:54 am

    to tell you the truth, I haven’t been confronted by this issue in the past.  If you like to try Food Colors, this is the link for one of them
    https://sensientfoodcolors.com/en-us/color-solutions/avalanche/

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