Food Safety Substance
SilicaE551
Silica (E551) is a food additive with PUBLISHED in the EU, FDA has no questions in the US, and data from 10 regulatory sources.
CAS 7631-86-9
E551
Indexable evidence set
FDA
FDA has no questions
ADI / TDI
ADI NOT SPECIFIED
Codex
40 row(s)
SOURCE
D1 identity resolution
e number aliases | Food Additives | dsstox identifiers | 10 matched regulatory source group(s)
Substance Identity
Resolved identifiers used to render this food-safety record.
Substance name
Silica
CAS
7631-86-9
E-number
E551
DTXSID
DTXSID1029677
PubChem CID
24261
Evidence tier
Indexable evidence set (16)
SOURCE
EU Commission
FDA | Health Canada | Codex Alimentarius
Multi-Jurisdiction Comparison
Side-by-side status rows for the same resolved substance across public food regulators.
| Jurisdiction | Authority | Status | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| European Union | EU Commission | PUBLISHED | EU additive listing; Annex II entry |
| United States | FDA | FDA has no questions | GRAS notice |
| Canada | Health Canada | Listed | Anticaking agent |
| Codex | Codex Alimentarius | Listed | Anticaking agent; Antifoaming agent; Carrier |
SOURCE
EU Commission
EU Food Additives | EU Food Additives Database
EU Food Additive Status
EU Commission food-additive listing rows from eu_food_additives.
| Jurisdiction | E-number | Status | Type | Name | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Union | E554 | PUBLISHED | substanceFAD | Sodium aluminium silicate | - |
| European Union | E555 | PUBLISHED | substanceFAD | Potassium aluminium silicate | - |
| European Union | E556 | PUBLISHED | substanceFAD | Calcium aluminium silicate | - |
| European Union | E559 | PUBLISHED | substanceFAD | Aluminium silicate (Kaolin) | - |
| European Union | E551 | PUBLISHED | substanceFAD | Silicon dioxide | - |
| European Union | E552 | PUBLISHED | substanceFAD | Calcium silicate | - |
| European Union | E553A | PUBLISHED | substanceFAD | Magnesium silicate | - |
| European Union | E551 | PUBLISHED | group | Silicon dioxide - silicates | - |
| European Union | E551 | PUBLISHED | group | Silicon dioxide - silicates | - |
SOURCE
EU Commission
EU Annex II Authorised | EU Food Additives Database
EU Annex II Authorised Uses
Authorised additive rows and use conditions from EU Annex II tables.
| Jurisdiction | E-number | Name | INS | Policy item | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Union | E551 | Silicon dioxide | - | POL-FAD-IMPORT-3233 | - |
| European Union | - | Silicon dioxide - silicates | - | POL-FAD-IMPORT-3357 | - |
| European Union | - | Silicon dioxide - silicates | - | POL-FAD-IMPORT-3372 | - |
| European Union | E552 | Calcium silicate | - | POL-FAD-IMPORT-3235 | - |
| European Union | E553A | Magnesium silicate | - | POL-FAD-IMPORT-3236 | - |
| European Union | E554 | Sodium aluminium silicate | - | POL-FAD-IMPORT-3238 | - |
| European Union | E555 | Potassium aluminium silicate | - | POL-FAD-IMPORT-3239 | - |
| European Union | E556 | Calcium aluminium silicate | - | POL-FAD-IMPORT-3240 | - |
| European Union | E559 | Aluminium silicate (Kaolin) | - | POL-FAD-IMPORT-3242 | - |
Conditions and restrictions
| Jurisdiction | Food category | Restriction | Comment | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Union | 5.3 chewing gum | quantum satis | surface treatment only | EU Annex II Union List |
| European Union | 13.1 foods for infants and young children | 10.000 mg/kg | in nutrient preparations | EU Annex II Union List |
| European Union | 13.1.3 Processed cereal-based foods and baby foods as defined by Regulation (EU) No 609/2013 | ML 2000 mg/kg | only dry cereals | EU Annex II Union List |
| European Union | 5.3 chewing gum | quantum satis | surface treatment only | EU Food Additives Database |
| European Union | 13.1.3 Processed cereal-based foods and baby foods as defined by Regulation (EU) No 609/2013 | ML 2000 mg/kg | only dry cereals | EU Food Additives Database |
| European Union | 13.1 foods for infants and young children | 10.000 mg/kg | in nutrient preparations | EU Food Additives Database |
SOURCE
Codex Alimentarius
Codex GSFA
Codex GSFA Status
Codex Alimentarius GSFA permissions and maximum-use rows.
| Jurisdiction | INS / E-number | Function | Food category | Max level | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Codex | 551 | Anticaking agent; Antifoaming agent; Carrier | 01.5.1 Milk powder and cream powder (plain) | GMP | Except for use in products conforming to the Standard for Edible Casein Products (CXS 290-1995): bone phosphate (INS 542), calcium carbonate (INS 170(i)), calcium silicate (INS... |
| Codex | 551 | Anticaking agent; Antifoaming agent; Carrier | 01.6.1 Unripened cheese | GMP | Except for use in products conforming to the Group Standard for Unripened Cheese including Fresh Cheese (CXS 221-2001): silicon dioxide, amorphous (INS 551), calcium silicate (INS... |
| Codex | 551 | Anticaking agent; Antifoaming agent; Carrier | 01.6.2.1 Ripened cheese, includes rind | GMP | Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Cheese in Brine (CODEX STAN 208-1999).; Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Coulommiers (CXS 274-1969).; Excluding... |
| Codex | 551 | Anticaking agent; Antifoaming agent; Carrier | 01.8.2 Dried whey and whey products, excluding whey cheeses | 10,000 mg/kg | Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Dairy Permeate Powders (CXS 331-2017). |
| Codex | 551 | Anticaking agent; Antifoaming agent; Carrier | 11.1.2 Powdered sugar, powdered dextrose | 15,000 mg/kg | Excluding products where starch is present.; For products conforming to the Standard for Sugars (CXS 212-1999) as anticaking agents only: Calcium dihydrogen phosphate (INS... |
| Codex | 551 | Anticaking agent; Antifoaming agent; Carrier | 12.1.1 Salt | GMP | - |
| Codex | 551 | Anticaking agent; Antifoaming agent; Carrier | 12.1.2 Salt Substitutes | GMP | - |
| Codex | 551 | Anticaking agent; Antifoaming agent; Carrier | 12.2.1 Herbs and spices | GMP | Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Dried Floral Parts - Saffron (CXS 351-2022).; Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Black, White and Green Peppers... |
| Codex | 551 | Anticaking agent; Antifoaming agent; Carrier | 13.1.1 Infant formulae | 10 mg/kg | Maximum use level is expressed as mg additive/L of food.; For use as a nutrient carrier in a raw material or other ingredient.; As consumed. |
| Codex | 551 | Anticaking agent; Antifoaming agent; Carrier | 13.1.2 Follow-up formulae | 10 mg/kg | Maximum use level is expressed as mg additive/L of food.; For use as a nutrient carrier in a raw material or other ingredient.; As consumed. |
| Codex | 551 | Anticaking agent; Antifoaming agent; Carrier | 13.1.3 Formulae for special medical purposes for infants | 10 mg/kg | Maximum use level is expressed as mg additive/L of food.; For use as a nutrient carrier in a raw material or other ingredient.; As consumed. |
| Codex | 551 | Anticaking agent; Antifoaming agent; Carrier | 13.2 Complementary foods for infants and young children | 2,000 mg/kg | Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Canned Baby Foods (CODEX STAN 73- 1981).; For use as a nutrient carrier in a raw material or other ingredient used to produce the... |
| Codex | 551 | Anticaking agent; Antifoaming agent; Carrier | 14.1.5 Coffee, coffee substitutes, tea, herbal infusions, and other hot cereal and grain beverages, excluding cocoa | GMP | For use in powdered mixes only. |
| Codex | 552 | Anticaking agent | 01.5.1 Milk powder and cream powder (plain) | GMP | Except for use in products conforming to the Standard for Milk Products and Cream Powder (CXS 207-1999): bone phosphate (INS 542), calcium carbonate (INS 170(i)), calcium... |
| Codex | 552 | Anticaking agent | 01.6.1 Unripened cheese | GMP | Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Cottage Cheese (CXS 273-1968).; Except for use in products conforming to the Group Standard for Unripened Cheese including Fresh... |
| Codex | 552 | Anticaking agent | 01.6.2.1 Ripened cheese, includes rind | GMP | Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Brie (CXS 277-1973).; Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Camembert (CXS 276-1973).; Excluding products conforming... |
| Codex | 552 | Anticaking agent | 01.8.2 Dried whey and whey products, excluding whey cheeses | 10,000 mg/kg | Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Dairy Permeate Powders (CXS 331-2017). |
| Codex | 552 | Anticaking agent | 11.1.2 Powdered sugar, powdered dextrose | 15,000 mg/kg | For products conforming to the Standard for Sugars (CXS 212-1999) as anticaking agents only: Calcium dihydrogen phosphate (INS 341(i)), calcium hydrogen phosphate (INS 341(ii))... |
| Codex | 552 | Anticaking agent | 12.1.1 Salt | GMP | - |
| Codex | 552 | Anticaking agent | 12.1.2 Salt Substitutes | GMP | - |
| Codex | 552 | Anticaking agent | 12.2.1 Herbs and spices | GMP | Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Dried Floral Parts - Saffron (CXS 351-2022).; For herbs use is limited to herbs that have been ground or processed into powder... |
| Codex | 553(i) | Anticaking agent | 01.5.1 Milk powder and cream powder (plain) | GMP | Except for use in products conforming to the Standard for Edible Casein Products (CXS 290-1995): bone phosphate (INS 542), calcium carbonate (INS 170(i)), calcium silicate (INS... |
| Codex | 553(i) | Anticaking agent | 01.6.1 Unripened cheese | GMP | Except for use in products conforming to the Group Standard for Unripened Cheese including Fresh Cheese (CXS 221-2001): silicon dioxide, amorphous (INS 551), calcium silicate (INS... |
| Codex | 553(i) | Anticaking agent | 01.6.2.1 Ripened cheese, includes rind | GMP | Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Coulommiers (CXS 274-1969).; Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Camembert (CXS 276-1973).; Except for use at... |
| Codex | 553(i) | Anticaking agent | 01.8.2 Dried whey and whey products, excluding whey cheeses | 10,000 mg/kg | Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Dairy Permeate Powders (CXS 331-2017). |
| Codex | 553(i) | Anticaking agent | 11.1.2 Powdered sugar, powdered dextrose | 15,000 mg/kg | Excluding products where starch is present.; For products conforming to the Standard for Sugars (CXS 212-1999) as anticaking agents only: Calcium dihydrogen phosphate (INS... |
| Codex | 553(i) | Anticaking agent | 12.1.1 Salt | GMP | - |
| Codex | 553(i) | Anticaking agent | 12.1.2 Salt Substitutes | GMP | - |
| Codex | 553(i) | Anticaking agent | 12.2.1 Herbs and spices | GMP | Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Dried Floral Parts - Saffron (CXS 351-2022).; For herbs use is limited to herbs that have been ground or processed into powder... |
| Codex | 554 | Anticaking agent | 01.3.2 Beverage whiteners | 570 mg/kg | For use in powdered beverage whiteners only.; Excluding products conforming to the Standard for a Blend of Evaporated Skimmed Milk and Vegetable Fat (CODEX STAN 250-2006).; As... |
| Codex | 554 | Anticaking agent | 01.5.1 Milk powder and cream powder (plain) | 265 mg/kg | As aluminium.; Singly or in combination: sodium aluminosilicate (INS 554) and calcium aluminium silicate (INS 556). |
| Codex | 554 | Anticaking agent | 01.5.2 Milk and cream powder analogues | 570 mg/kg | As aluminium. |
| Codex | 554 | Anticaking agent | 01.8.2 Dried whey and whey products, excluding whey cheeses | 1,140 mg/kg | As aluminium.; Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Dairy Permeate Powders (CXS 331-2017). |
| Codex | 554 | Anticaking agent | 05.3 Chewing gum | 100 mg/kg | Singly or in combination: sodium aluminosilicate (INS 554), calcium aluminium silicate (INS 556), and aluminium silicate (INS 559).; As aluminium. |
| Codex | 554 | Anticaking agent | 12.1.1 Salt | 1,000 mg/kg | As aluminium.; For use in salt applied to dry salted cheeses during manufacturing only. |
| Codex | 554 | Anticaking agent | 12.2.2 Seasonings and condiments | 1,000 mg/kg | Except for use in seasonings applied to foods in food category 15.1 at 1 700 mg/kg.; As aluminium. |
| Codex | 554 | Anticaking agent | 12.5.2 Mixes for soups and broths | 570 mg/kg | Excluding products conforming to the Codex Standard for Bouillons and Consommés (CODEX STAN 117-1981).; As aluminium. |
| Codex | 554 | Anticaking agent | 12.6.3 Mixes for sauces and gravies | 570 mg/kg | As aluminium. |
| Codex | 556 | Anticaking agent | Table 3 Foods in General (GMP) | GMP | Table 3 additive - GMP in foods in general |
| Codex | 559 | Anticaking agent | Table 3 Foods in General (GMP) | GMP | Table 3 additive - GMP in foods in general |
SOURCE
FDA
FDA GRAS
FDA GRAS Status
US FDA GRAS notice evidence from enriched and notice tables.
| Jurisdiction | GRN | Substance | FDA response | Intended use | Basis | Notifier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 62 | Chlorine dioxide generated from particles (<30μm) composed of sodium polyphosphate, magnesium sulfate, sodium silicate and sodium chlorite that are incorporated into low density polyethylene (LDPE) food-packaging films, at levels not exceeding 17.5 micrograms chlorite/in2 of finished package film. | FDA has no questions | Use for packaging meats, poultry and seafood that will be cooked prior to being consumed, and for packaging fresh fruits and vegetables and foods in transit or storage from... | Scientific procedures | Bernard Technologies, Inc. |
| United States | 298 | Silicon dioxide | At the notifier's request, FDA ceased to evaluate this notice | Use in a variety of foods and food-packing materials | Scientific procedures | Cabot Corporation |
| United States | 321 | Synthetic amorphous silica | FDA has no questions | Anticaking agent, defoaming agent, stabilizer, adsorbent, carrier, conditioning agent, chill proofing agent, filter aid, emulsifying agent, viscosity control agent, and... | Scientific procedures | Cabot Corporation |
| United States | 554 | Synthetic amorphous silica | FDA has no questions | For use as a multi-functional direct ingredient in a broad range of food categories at levels not to exceed 2% of the finished food. Also intended for use as an indirect... | Scientific procedures | Evonik Corporation |
| United States | 996 | Synthetic amorphous silica | FDA has no questions | Intended for use as a carrier in white sugar at levels from 0.05 to 0.30 g/100 g. | Scientific procedures | DouxMatok Ltd. |
| United States | 62 | Chlorine dioxide generated from particles (<30μm) composed of sodium polyphosphate, magnesium sulfate, sodium silicate and sodium chlorite that are incorporated into low density polyethylene (LDPE) food-packaging films, at levels not exceeding 17.5 micrograms chlorite/in<sup>2</sup> of finished package film. | FDA has no questions | Use for packaging meats, poultry and seafood that will be cooked prior to being consumed, and for packaging fresh fruits and vegetables and foods in transit or storage from... | Scientific procedures | Bernard Technologies, Inc. |
| United States | 321 | Synthetic amorphous silica | FDA has no questions | Anticaking agent, defoaming agent, stabilizer, adsorbent, carrier, conditioning agent, chill proofing agent, filter aid, emulsifying agent, viscosity control agent, and... | Scientific procedures | Cabot Corporation |
| United States | 554 | Synthetic amorphous silica | FDA has no questions | For use as a multi-functional direct ingredient in a broad range of food categories at levels not to exceed 2% of the finished food. Also intended for use as an indirect... | Scientific procedures | Evonik Corporation |
| United States | 996 | Synthetic amorphous silica | FDA has no questions (in PDF) | Intended for use as a carrier in white sugar at levels from 0.05 to 0.30 g/100 g. | Scientific procedures | DouxMatok Ltd. |
SOURCE
Health Canada
Health Canada Status
Health Canada food-additive permissions by functional class and food scope.
| Jurisdiction | Class | Permitted foods | Maximum level | List |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | Anticaking agent | (a) Baking powder | (a) 5.0% | List of Permitted Anticaking Agents |
| Canada | Anticaking agent | (a) Garlic salt; Onion salt | (a) If used singly, the amount not to exceed 2.0%. If used in any combination with other anticaking agents, the total combined amount not to exceed 2.0%. | List of Permitted Anticaking Agents |
| Canada | Anticaking agent | (a) Dried egg-white; Dried whole egg; Dried whole egg mix; Dried yolk; Dried yolk mix | (a) 2.0% | List of Permitted Anticaking Agents |
| Canada | Glazing agent | Unstandardized confectionery | 4,000 ppm | List of Permitted Glazing Agents |
| Canada | Carrier | - | Good Manufacturing Practice | List of Permitted Food Additives with Other Purposes of Use |
| Canada | Dusting agent | - | (a) Good Manufacturing Practice | List of Permitted Food Additives with Other Purposes of Use |
| Canada | Coating agent | - | (b) Good Manufacturing Practice | List of Permitted Food Additives with Other Purposes of Use |
| Canada | Release agent | - | (c) Good Manufacturing Practice | List of Permitted Food Additives with Other Purposes of Use |
| Canada | Corrosion inhibitor | - | Good Manufacturing Practice | List of Permitted Food Additives with Other Purposes of Use |
| Canada | Food Colours | (a) Unstandardized confectionery, except chewing gum | (a) Good Manufacturing Practice | List of Permitted Food Colours |
| Canada | Food Colours | (a) Unstandardized confectionery, except chewing gum | (a) Good Manufacturing Practice | List of Permitted Food Colours |
| Canada | Food Colours | (a) Unstandardized confectionery, except chewing gum | (a) Good Manufacturing Practice | List of Permitted Food Colours |
SOURCE
EU Commission
EU Food Contact Materials
EU FCM Substances
EU food-contact material rows and migration-limit fields.
| Jurisdiction | FCM no. | Ref no. | Substance | Use | SML | Regulation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Union | 84 | 85601 | silicates, natural (with the exception of asbestos) | additive/PPA | - | Regulation (EU) No 10/2011, Annex I |
| European Union | 85 | 85610 | silicates, natural, silanated (with the exception of asbestos) | additive/PPA | - | Regulation (EU) No 10/2011, Annex I |
| European Union | 504 | 86240 | silicon dioxide | additive/PPA | - | Regulation (EU) No 10/2011, Annex I |
| European Union | 1062 | - | mixture composed of 97 % tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) with CAS No 78-10-4 and 3 % hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) with CAS No 999-97-3 | monomer/macromolecule | - | Regulation (EU) No 10/2011, Annex I |
| European Union | - | - | chabazite (calcium aluminium silicate) | - | - | Regulation (EC) No 450/2009, Register v1.1 |
| European Union | 504 | - | silicon dioxide | - | - | Regulation (EC) No 450/2009, Register v1.1 |
SOURCE
JECFA
JECFA ADI
JECFA ADI Values
JECFA ADI records and evaluation years.
| Jurisdiction | Chemical name | JECFA no. | CAS | ADI | ADI upper | Function | Evaluation year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JECFA | ALUMINIUM CALCIUM SILICATE | - | - | no_data | - | - | 2015 |
| JECFA | ALUMINIUM SILICATE | - | 12141-46-7 | NOT SPECIFIED | - | ANTICAKING_AGENT | 2015 |
| JECFA | CALCIUM ALUMINIUM SILICATE | - | 1327-39-5 | NOT SPECIFIED | - | ANTICAKING_AGENT | 2015 |
| JECFA | CALCIUM SILICATE | - | 1344-95-2 | NOT SPECIFIED | - | ANTICAKING_AGENT | 2015 |
| JECFA | SODIUM ALUMINIUM SILICATE | - | 1344-00-9 | NOT SPECIFIED | - | ANTICAKING_AGENT | 2017 |
| JECFA | SILICA | - | - | no_data | - | - | 2017 |
| JECFA | SILICON DIOXIDE, AMORPHOUS | - | 7631-86-9 | NOT SPECIFIED | - | ANTICAKING_AGENT | 2017 |
| JECFA | POTASSIUM ALUMINOSILICATE | - | - | NO ADI ALLOCATED | - | ANTICAKING_AGENT | 2014 |
| JECFA | MAGNESIUM SILICATE (synthetic) | - | 1343-90-4 (Magnesium silicate hydrate) | NOT SPECIFIED | - | ANTICAKING_AGENT, FILTERING_AID | 2011 |
| JECFA | POTASSIUM ALUMINIUM SILICATE | - | 12001-26-2 | no_data | - | - | 2014 |
| JECFA | SODIUM ALUMINOSILICATE | - | - | no_data | - | - | 2017 |
| JECFA | ALUMINIUM SODIUM SILICATE | - | - | no_data | - | - | 2017 |
SOURCE
ingredients
ghs classifications
Cross-Reference to Cosmetics / Chemicals / Pharma
Same-CAS public rows from adjacent Roots verticals where available.
SOURCE
Cross-vertical comparison
ingredients | ghs classifications
Cross-Vertical Regulatory Divergence
This substance has different regulatory treatment across food, cosmetics, and industrial use.
SOURCE
FAQPage JSON-LD
public food renderer rows
Frequently Asked Questions
Food-use, safety, ADI, and cross-vertical answers mirrored into FAQPage JSON-LD.
What is Silica used for in food?
Silica appears in food-use rows as: Anti-caking/Antioxidant; Anticaking agent; Antifoaming agent; Carrier; Anticaking agent.
Is Silica / E551 safe?
This page does not assign a standalone safety verdict; it renders public regulatory evidence. ADI/reference value: ADI NOT SPECIFIED . EU status evidence: PUBLISHED. US/FDA evidence: FDA has no questions.
What is the ADI for Silica?
Silica has this ADI/reference value in the food-safety tables: ADI NOT SPECIFIED . Source: food_substances.
Is Silica also used in cosmetics?
Silica has a same-CAS cosmetics cross-reference: Hydrolyzed Silica, EU status permitted.