If you’re anything like me, you pay attention to the ingredients in your kitchen—especially when you’re baking for people with sensitivities or kids who snack on every stray drop of icing.

I’ve been there—standing in the kitchen, reading the fine print on a label and thinking, Wait, what even is this stuff?

As someone who bakes for kids, friends, and people with allergies, I need to trust what goes into my icing. That’s why I stopped using meringue powders with questionable additives—and started using one I can stand behind. Meringue powders are not created equal!

But there’s one ingredient that’s still surprisingly common in royal icing recipes… and once I learned more about it, I stopped using products that contained it altogether.

What’s Really in Your Meringue Powder? The Hidden Ingredient I Now Avoid at All Costs

Most bakers don’t think twice about the ingredients in their meringue powder—we just assume it’s “egg whites in a jar,” right?

But the truth is, many commercial meringue powders contain a lot more than just dried egg whites.

Some include titanium dioxide, artificial flavors, anti-caking agents, and filler starches that can affect how your icing performs. These additives might give the product a longer shelf life or a brighter white color, but they can also lead to unpredictable results—like cracking, craters, or icing that never fully sets.

But here’s the thing: just because it’s common doesn’t mean it’s harmless.

For decorators who care about clean baking, flavor clarity, and consistent results, ingredient transparency is non-negotiable. It’s worth paying attention to what’s in your powder. That’s why I only use a powder that keeps it simple, natural, and functional.

What Is Titanium Dioxide—And Why Is It in Meringue Powder?

Titanium dioxide is a whitening agent. It’s used in a lot of commercial products—from toothpaste to sunscreen to (yes) meringue powder. In royal icing, it gives a bright, opaque white color that some bakers like for crisp cookie designs.

Some scientists say it might cause cancer if inhaled or eaten in high amounts, although that conclusion is really dependent on additional testing. In 2022, the European Union banned titanium dioxide as a food additive due to potential health concerns.

Its recent exposure as a potential carcinogen
to humans has been linked to controversies around titanium dioxide’s toxicity

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9104107/

Studies raised red flags about long-term ingestion and how the body processes it, especially when it comes to nano-sized particles.

While the FDA in the U.S. still allows it in small amounts, many health-conscious bakers (myself included) have started actively avoiding it.

Why I Stopped Using Products with Titanium Dioxide

The more I dug into ingredient labels, the more I realized that a lot of meringue powders I’d been using casually for years contained titanium dioxide—without any real transparency.

And honestly? I didn’t need it. I care more about how my icing performs and tastes than whether it’s photo-shoot white. Once I made the switch to a cleaner powder, I didn’t miss it for a second—and neither did my cookies.

Worried About Titanium Dioxide in Your Royal Icing? Here’s a Safer Option

The Brand I Trust

Modern Mountain’s meringue powder was the first I found that proudly skips titanium dioxide entirely—and still delivers gorgeous, professional-quality results.

Here’s why it stood out immediately:

• No titanium dioxide, period. No sneaky whitening agents or mystery fillers.
• Non-GMO sourced ingredients that you can feel good about serving to anyone.
• Natural flavoring only—no artificial taste or after-flavors in your icing.
• Royal icing that dries fast and smooth, with amazing structure and a natural, clean white tone.

It creates icing that’s stable, pipeable, and easy to work with—even on detailed designs. And best of all, it works with your favorite royal icing recipe, no fancy adjustments required.

Why This Matters for Ingredient-Conscious Bakers

If you bake for:

• Kids
• Clients with allergies or sensitivities
• Anyone trying to avoid artificial ingredients
• …this stuff matters. You deserve to know exactly what’s in your baking products—and you shouldn’t have to sacrifice performance to get it.

Choosing a meringue powder without titanium dioxide is a small shift that makes a big difference. You’re not just protecting your health—you’re also simplifying your ingredient list and creating cookies that are beautiful and better for the people eating them.

Try the Safe Meringue Powder I Swear By

Here’s what I wanted in a meringue powder:

• No weird ingredients that are banned
• No artificial colors or flavors
• A formula I could use with confidence
• Icing that still looked professional and dried beautifully
• Made by a company that passes on their good values (good for the planet and plastic neutral – a MAJOR bonus!!!)

I no longer second-guess what I’m piping onto my cookies. No guilt, no confusion—just clean, reliable icing that I can feel good about serving.

That shift—from anxiety to confidence—was worth every bit of the switch.

If you’re ready to swap your meringue powder for something cleaner and more transparent, this is the one I use and recommend,

I only share products I truly use and trust. This one helped me simplify my baking, avoid questionable ingredients, and still get royal icing results that make me proud.

Final Thought: Cleaner Icing, Less Stress

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when you start looking into food additives and ingredient labels. But I promise—every small, informed swap makes a difference. You don’t have to obsess. Just start by choosing better when you can.

And for me? Choosing a meringue powder that doesn’t include titanium dioxide felt like an easy, obvious win.

Let’s keep baking with joy—and with ingredients we can feel good about. 🫶