E900 Dimethylpolysiloxane – Food Additive Guide
E900 (dimethylpolysiloxane) is an approved food additive used as an anti-foaming agent. It prevents foam formation during food processing and is authorized in the EU and many other countries.
Things worth knowing about "E900"
E900 (dimethylpolysiloxane) is an approved food additive used as an anti-foaming agent. It prevents foam formation during food processing and is authorized in the EU and many other countries.
What is E900?
E900, known chemically as dimethylpolysiloxane or polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), is a synthetic silicone-based food additive used primarily as an anti-foaming agent. It prevents or reduces the formation of unwanted foam during the manufacture, processing, and packaging of food products. In the European Union, E900 is officially approved and regulated under food additive legislation.
Properties and Origin
Dimethylpolysiloxane belongs to the silicone family – synthetic polymers built from silicon and oxygen atoms. It appears as a clear, odorless, and tasteless liquid or gel-like substance that is chemically very stable and biologically inert. It is not absorbed by the human body and passes through the digestive system unchanged.
Uses in Food
E900 is used across a wide variety of food categories and production processes:
- Cooking oils and frying fats: Prevents excessive foaming when heated
- Fruit juices and beverages: Reduces foam during bottling and filling
- Jams and preserves: Minimizes foam formation during cooking
- Soups and sauces: Improves processing stability
- Chewing gum: Acts as a carrier and release agent in the gum base
- Wine and beer: Controls foam during fermentation and bottling
Mechanism of Action
Dimethylpolysiloxane works by reducing the surface tension of liquids. Foam forms when air or gas becomes trapped in a liquid, creating stable bubbles. E900 spreads across the liquid-gas interface and destabilizes these bubbles, causing foam to collapse or preventing it from forming altogether. Even very small amounts, measured in parts per million (ppm), are sufficient to achieve this effect.
Health Assessment and Safety
According to current scientific evidence, E900 is considered safe for human consumption when used within approved limits. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has reviewed dimethylpolysiloxane and confirmed its safety profile. Since the substance is not absorbed by the body, it does not exert any toxic effects. Allergic reactions to E900 are extremely rare and barely documented in the scientific literature.
Maximum Permitted Levels (Examples)
- Frying fats and oils: up to 10 mg/kg
- Chewing gum base: according to good manufacturing practice (quantum satis)
- Wine: up to 10 mg/l
Labeling Requirements
In the EU, E900 must be declared in the ingredient list of food products, either as E900 or under the full name dimethylpolysiloxane. Labeling may be omitted in cases where the substance is used as a processing aid and is no longer technologically active in the final product.
Occurrence in Everyday Products
Beyond food, dimethylpolysiloxane is widely used in cosmetics (e.g., hair care products, lip balms), pharmaceuticals, industrial applications, and as a component of non-stick coatings. In fast-food restaurants, it is commonly added to frying oil to prevent dangerous foam build-up during deep frying.
References
- European Food Safety Authority (EFSA): Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of dimethylpolysiloxane (E 900) as a food additive. EFSA Journal, 2018.
- Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on food additives.
- Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA): Dimethylpolysiloxane – Safety Evaluation. WHO Food Additives Series.
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