NEW YORK, March 10 — Dunkin’ Donuts has announced plans to remove a whitening agent used in the powdered sugar that coats their donuts following pressure from a consumer group that claims the substance poses a health threat.

At issue: titanium dioxide nanomaterials produced through nanotechnology, a new food industry application that manipulates matter at the molecular level to produce stronger flavorings and colorings.

According to consumer group As You Sow, which has been sounding the alarm for the last two years, nanoparticles are at increased risk of passing through biological membranes, circulating the body, entering cells and disrupting normal functions.

Preliminary studies have also shown that nanomaterials can cause damage at the DNA and chromosomal level; damage to the organs and brain; and genital malformations.

Overall, the group says that insufficient safety information exists regarding the health effects of nanomaterials as a food application.

The US Food and Drug Administration has yet to draw any conclusive results on nanomaterials in food and human health, citing insufficient data.

Dunkin’ Donuts is the latest fast food chain to bow to pressure from consumer groups and health advocates regarding the use of chemicals deemed health threats.

Last week, McDonald’s announced plans to stop serving chicken raised with antibiotics.

Last year, Subway also phased out azodicarbonamide, a chemical found in yoga mats, from their breads after a food blogger succeeded in mounting a viral campaign petitioning for the removal of the bleaching agent and dough conditioner.

Likewise, to appease outraged vegetarians, in 2012 Starbucks swapped out the bug-based red dye used in their strawberry-flavored Frappuccino with a vegetable extract. — AFP-Relaxnews