Why Is Calcium Silicate Often Added To Powdered Spices? Is It Safe To Consume?

If you are someone who frequently likes to check the ingredient list on food packets, you may have come across ‘calcium silicate’ or INS 552 and wondered what it is and whether it is safe. But now, we are here to explain the role of this ingredient and whether it has any harmful side effects.

What Is Calcium Silicate & Why Is It Added To Dry Food Products?

Calcium silicate or INS 552, is a common food additive. It is often added to spice powders, powdered drink mixes, salt, coffee creamers, baking powder and many other food products. But these days, there is a lot more scrutiny over these ingredients. People have also become more aware of what to consume and what to avoid. Let us tell you what this ingredient does.

Calcium silicate is often used as an anti-caking agent to prevent dry foods from clumping together. Himanshi Sharma, Chief Clinical Nutritionist, ISIC Multispeciality Hospital, shared with The Indian Express that calcium silicate’s role is purely functional in food. People should not confuse it with a meaningful source of calcium. This ingredient helps improve the texture, handling and shelf life of the food product without adding to its nutritional value.

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Is This Ingredient Safe To Consume?

This ingredient is mostly present in dry, powdered or granular food products where moisture can cause clumping. The nutritionist also shared with The Indian Express that not every dry food product contains “INS 552”. The ingredient is permitted to be used as an anti-caking agent in India, but it does not mean that unlimited intake of calcium silicate is harmless.

According to the European Food Safety Authority, this ingredient does not get fully absorbed in our bodies. Much of it passes through the digestive system rather than entering our bloodstream. Small amounts may be absorbed by our bodies, but people should not consume it as a good source of calcium or silicon. There is limited evidence to define the effects of high consumption of this ingredient in human bodies.

But according to the nutritionist, consumers do not need to avoid a product just because it contains calcium silicate. However, they should look at the overall ingredient list and eat a balanced diet with fewer highly processed foods.

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Do you also check the ingredient list of food items? And were you aware of INS 552?

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