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E559 Aluminium Silicate – Food Additive

E559 is an approved food additive based on aluminium silicate (kaolin), used as an anti-caking agent and release agent in various food products.

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Things worth knowing about "E559"

E559 is an approved food additive based on aluminium silicate (kaolin), used as an anti-caking agent and release agent in various food products.

What is E559?

E559 refers to aluminium silicate, commonly known as kaolin, a naturally occurring mineral clay. As an approved food additive in the European Union, E559 is primarily used as an anti-caking agent and release agent. It prevents powdered or granular food products from clumping together, thereby facilitating processing, transport, and storage of food items.

Origin and Chemical Properties

Kaolin is a fine, white clay mineral composed mainly of the mineral kaolinite (Al₂Si₂O₅(OH)₄). It is mined in large quantities worldwide and has diverse industrial and food technology applications. The substance is odourless, taste-neutral, and water-insoluble, making it particularly suitable for use in food products.

Applications in the Food Industry

E559 is used across a range of food products and categories:

Cocoa powder and chocolate products: Prevents powder from clumping.
Dried vegetables and spices: Improves flowability.
Chewing gum: Acts as a release agent during production.
Fine bakery products and dry mixes: Facilitates processing and maintains powder characteristics over shelf life.
Rice coating: Used in some countries for surface treatment of rice grains.

Mechanism of Action

As an anti-caking agent, E559 works by having its fine particles attach to the surface of larger powder particles, preventing them from fusing or clumping together. This occurs through physical adsorption: the kaolin particles form a protective layer that reduces moisture absorption and maintains the flowability of the product. As a release agent, E559 prevents food from adhering to processing surfaces or packaging materials.

Safety and Health Assessment

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) have evaluated aluminium silicate (kaolin) as a food additive. No acceptable daily intake (ADI) has been established for E559, as it is considered safe when used in the permitted amounts. Kaolin is practically not absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract and is excreted unchanged.

Nevertheless, there are general considerations regarding aluminium intake from food additives. EFSA has established a tolerable weekly intake (TWI) for aluminium from all sources combined. When E559 is used as intended, exceeding this value is not expected.

Approval and Legal Framework

In the European Union, E559 is authorised under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives. Its use is restricted to specific food categories with defined maximum levels. Outside the EU, such as in the United States (FDA) and other countries, kaolin is also classified as safe for food use.

Labelling and Consumer Information

When E559 is present in a food product, it must be declared in the ingredient list in accordance with EU labelling regulations, either as E559 or as aluminium silicate. Consumers who wish to avoid food additives can identify E559 by carefully reading the ingredient list on product packaging.

References

European Food Safety Authority (EFSA): Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of aluminium silicates (E 559) as a food additive. EFSA Journal, 2018.
Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on food additives. Official Journal of the European Union.
Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA): Monograph on Aluminium silicate (Kaolin). WHO Food Additives Series.

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