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Silicon Dioxide(E551)

Level 2 — Generally safeIn Winter's Dictionary2 sources

Silicon Dioxide is a anti caking — Defoamer and anticaking additive in foods

Also: Silica

What it does

Defoamer and anticaking additive in foods

Where you'll see it

salt, salt substitutes, BHT, vitamins, urea

What the research says

Prolonged inhalation of dust can injure lungs [salt-sugar-fat] Anti-caking agent that lets fructose (and salt blends like Cargill's Shur-Flo) flow freely through factory dosing equipment without clumping; key to making waterproof fructose for Kool-Aid and Tang.

Regulatory status

  • US FDA: GRAS
  • EU: approved
  • Notes: ASP; limited to 2 percent in salt

Sources

  • Salt Sugar Fat (Moss) — Chapter 6 (A Burst of Fruity Aroma): He used agents like calcium citrate, tricalcium phosphate, and silicon dioxide to prevent the caking
  • A Consumer's Dictionary of Food Additives (Winter): cleared for use as a food additive and as an anticaking additive at a level not to exceed 2 percent in salt