E552 Calcium Silicate – Food Additive Explained
E552 is the food additive calcium silicate, an approved anti-caking agent and separating agent. It prevents powders from clumping and is used in salt, spices, and dietary supplements.
Things worth knowing about "E552"
E552 is the food additive calcium silicate, an approved anti-caking agent and separating agent. It prevents powders from clumping and is used in salt, spices, and dietary supplements.
What is E552?
E552 refers to calcium silicate, an inorganic compound derived from calcium and silicon dioxide. In the food industry, it is an approved food additive classified as a separating agent and anti-caking agent. Its primary function is to prevent powdered or granulated food products from sticking together or forming lumps.
Uses in Food Products
E552 is used across a wide range of food categories. Common applications include:
- Table salt and cooking salt: prevents clumping in humid conditions
- Spice blends and seasoning powders: ensures consistent flowability
- Baking powder and starch products: improves processability
- Dietary supplements in tablet form: acts as a processing aid during tableting
- Cheese and cheese products: prevents grated or sliced cheese from sticking together
- Confectionery and icing sugar: keeps the product free-flowing
Chemical Properties
Calcium silicate (chemical formula: CaSiO₃) is a white, odourless, and tasteless powder. It is water-repellent and has a high adsorption capacity, meaning it can absorb moisture without clumping itself. These properties make it particularly suitable as a flow agent in food processing.
Regulatory Approval and Safety
E552 is authorised in the European Union under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has assessed calcium silicate as safe when used within the established maximum permitted levels. EFSA considered it unnecessary to set a specific acceptable daily intake (ADI), as the substance is regarded as not posing a safety risk.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) also classify calcium silicate as a safe food additive.
Health Assessment
Calcium silicate is barely absorbed by the human body and is therefore considered physiologically inert. It provides no significant nutritional value, but also causes no adverse health effects when used as intended in food. No harmful effects are known from normal dietary exposure.
In occupational settings, inhalation of calcium silicate dust in very high concentrations could theoretically cause lung or airway irritation. However, this is not relevant for consumers who ingest the additive through food products.
Labelling Requirements
According to EU food labelling regulations, E552 must be listed in the ingredient declaration of food products either as E552 or by its full name calcium silicate. This allows consumers to identify the additive on product labels.
References
- European Food Safety Authority (EFSA): Re-evaluation of calcium silicate (E 552) as a food additive. EFSA Journal, 2018.
- Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on food additives.
- FAO/WHO Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA): Compendium of Food Additive Specifications – Calcium Silicate. WHO Technical Report Series.
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