Evonik is pleased to announce that the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has reaffirmed the safety of silica for use in food, including infant and baby food. In its latest scientific opinion on silicon dioxide as the food additive E 551, published on October 17, 2024, the EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings concluded that E 551 poses no safety concerns for any population group, including infants under 16 weeks, at current usage levels.
“This EFSA opinion boosts consumer confidence in safe food ingredients that meet regulatory standards. The food industry can continue to rely on our silica as an approved, safe, and highly effective anti-caking agent for sustainable food production,” said Emmanuel Auer, head of the Silica business line. Evonik manufactures special grades of silicon dioxide, known as Synthetic Amorphous Silica (SAS), for food applications. SAS is a naturally derived substance of the highest purity.
Silica’s Role in Sustainable Food Production
Silica is widely used as a food additive and processing aid in various food products. It enhances efficiency, handling, and sustainability throughout the food value chain. “As a free-flow and anti-caking agent for powdered foods, silica helps ensure that products like milk powder and vegetable powders remain clump-free during processing and storage, and that spices dispense smoothly from shakers,” explained Jean-Louis Philippe, Global Marketing Director & Regional Head EMEA Specialty Silica.
Silica was first approved as a food additive in the 1960s by regulatory authorities worldwide. In the European Union, it is designated as E 551. This approval guarantees consumers that silica is safe for consumption. E numbers are only assigned to substances that have been tested for safety and deemed technologically essential. The EFSA regularly re-evaluates E 551 to incorporate new scientific data.
A Long-Standing Food Additive
Evonik has been producing silica for over 80 years using consistent production processes. The product specifications, particle structure, and characteristics have remained unchanged over the decades.
As a leading global manufacturer of silica, Evonik offers a range of products under various brand names, including SIPERNAT®, ZEOFREE®, ULTRASIL®, ZEODENT®, and AEROSIL®, for diverse industrial applications worldwide.
