Food safety Assessment

TIM® reveals food additive effects on gut microbiome

 

 

impact of Food Additives on microbiome

About the project

Food additives are widely used in food products to improve appearance, stability, texture, and shelf life. Many consumers recognize these additives as the E-numbers listed on product packaging. While generally considered safe, some additives have raised questions about their potential impact on gastrointestinal health, particularly through interactions with the gut microbiome.

In this case study, the focus was on E171 (titanium dioxide), an additive commonly used as a whitening agent in foods and pharmaceuticals. Recent studies have linked oral exposure to E171 with effects in the gastro-intestinal tract, including inflammation and alterations to the gut microbiome. 

Assess behavior and microbiome interactions.

The effects of E171 on the gut microbiome were investigated using the TIM-2 model, a dynamic in vitro model of the human colon. Over a 72-hour period, E171 was administered either in water or incorporated into a yoghurt matrix to evaluate the influence of food on its behavior and microbiome interactions.

Throughout the study, researchers monitored particle size distribution, reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, changes in microbiome composition using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production as a measure of microbial metabolic activity.

 

Keywords

Food Safety Food Additives TIM Colon TIM-2 Microbiome Modulation

The results

  • E171 increases in Butyrate significantly
  • Transformation of E171 depends on the digestive state (fed or fasted)
  • E171 induced significant shifts in microbiota composition and activity
  • Both overlapping and unique E171-induced effects on the microbiome were demonstrated

Utilizing TIM-2 to investigate the effects of E171 on the human microbiome represents a significant advancement in a field that lacks human data  

Bischoff et al., J. applied microbiol. (2026)

Full reference

Bischoff, N. S., Undas, A. K., van Bemmel, G., Briedé, J. J., Van Breda, S. G., Verhoeven, J., Verbruggen, S., Venema, K., Sijm, D. T. H. M., & de Kok, T. M. (2026). Food additive titanium dioxide (E171) alters gut microbial metabolic activity and butyrate production in the TIM-2 in vitro colon model. Journal of applied microbiology, 137(3), lxag042. https://doi.org/10.1093/jambio/lxag042

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