Dunkin' Donuts To Remove Nanomaterials From Powdered Doughnuts

Dunkin' Donuts parent Dunkin' Brands said Thursday it has agreed to remove titanium dioxide, a whitening agent and common source of nanomaterials, from all powdered sugar used in its doughnuts, bowing to pressure from an advocacy group. As You Sow, a nonprofit that lobbies companies on environmental and social-responsibility issues, has withdrawn a shareholder proposal on the subject as a result. The group had commissioned independent laboratory testing of Dunkin's white powdered doughnuts in 2013, and found they contained nanomaterials -- tiny substances that have been engineered and can be toxic to humans and the environment because of their small size. Dunkin' Brands shares were up 3.5% in midmorning trade but are down about 2% in the last three months, while the S&P 500 has gained about 1.2%.