Colloidal Silicon Dioxide
colloidal silicon dioxide
Colloidal silicon dioxide is a fine powder added to packaged foods to stop ingredients from clumping together. It passes through the body largely unabsorbed and is used in very small amounts.
Not a declarable allergen
This is not on India’s mandatory declaration list. It may still matter to you, and you can add it to your own avoid list.
What it is
Colloidal silicon dioxide is a man made form of silica, which comes from silicon and oxygen, two of the most common elements on earth. It is produced industrially as an extremely fine powder. It is not the same as crystalline silica dust found in some workplaces, which has different health effects when inhaled.
Nutrition
It has no calories, vitamins, minerals or other nutrients. It does not contribute protein, fat, carbohydrate or fiber to the diet.
How it can affect health
Can affect: In the small amounts used in food, it is not well established to affect the body in any particular way. It is considered to pass through the digestive system largely unabsorbed.
Who should limit it
There is no well established group of people who need to limit colloidal silicon dioxide based on current evidence.
Where it is found
It is commonly used as an anti caking agent in powdered foods such as spice mixes, milk powder, instant soups, table salt and some supplement tablets. It helps these products flow freely and stay free of lumps.
Also written as
A different word for the same thing
- anti-caking agent (ins 551)en
- ins 551en
- silicon dioxideen
Names in other languages
- English
- Colloidal Silicon Dioxide
- मराठी
- कोलॉइडल सिलिकॉन डायऑक्साइड
- বাংলা
- কলয়ডাল সিলিকন ডাইঅক্সাইড
- தமிழ்
- கொலாய்டல் சிலிக்கான் டை ஆக்சைடு
- తెలుగు
- కొలాయిడల్ సిలికాన్ డయాక్సైడ్
- ಕನ್ನಡ
- ಕೊಲಾಯ್ಡಲ್ ಸಿಲಿಕಾನ್ ಡೈಆಕ್ಸೈಡ್
Products on Laddoo that list it
No product on Laddoo lists it under a name we can match yet. That is not a statement about any pack.
Questions people ask
- What does colloidal silicon dioxide do in food?
- It stops powders from clumping and helps them pour and mix easily. It is used in small amounts in things like spice blends, milk powder and some tablets.
- Can colloidal silicon dioxide cause side effects?
- At the small levels used in food, side effects are not well established. Most of what is eaten is thought to pass through the body without being absorbed.
- Is colloidal silicon dioxide the same as the silica dust that affects lungs at work?
- No. Workplace silica dust exposure through breathing is a different situation studied separately from eating small amounts of colloidal silicon dioxide in food.
- Does colloidal silicon dioxide have any nutrition value?
- No. It has no calories, vitamins or minerals and does not add any nutrients to food.
- Who should limit colloidal silicon dioxide?
- There is no specific group identified in current evidence that needs to limit it based on how it is used in food.
This page is written by AI as general information about the ingredient, not about any pack. It is not medical advice.