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What is an Anti-Caking Agent?

Select an Anti-Caking Agent or scroll down

Anti-Caking Agents E341 Calcium phosphates E343 Magnesium phosphates E421 Mannitol E470a Sodium, potassium and calcium salts of fatty acids E470b Magnesium salts of fatty acids E504 Magnesium carbonates E535 Sodium ferrocyanide E542 Bone phosphate E551 Silicon dioxide (Silica) E552 Calcium silicate E553a Magnesium silicates E553b Talc E554 Sodium aluminium silicate E555 Potassium aluminium silicate E556 Calcium aluminium silicate E558 Bentonite E559 Aluminium silicate (Kaolin) E570 Stearic acid E572 Magnesium stearate, calcium stearate E900 Dimethyl polysiloxane

• E341 Calcium phosphates (also Firming Agents)
  
  (i) Monocalcium phosphate
  
  Monocalcium phosphate is available commercially in the anhydrous or monohydrate form. Both are used as a leavening acid to replace cream of tartar in foods, 'straight baking powder' is a mixture of monocalcium phosphate monohydrate and sodium hydrogen carbonate. Monocalcium phosphate is used extensively in the fertiliser industry, when it was noted in 1880 that acidulated bones (containing tricalcium phosphate) made good fertiliser.
  
  Typical products include self-raising flour, baking powder, cake and pastry mixes, cakes and other pastry products.
  
  

  Other names:	calcium phosphate, monobasic, monohydrate, calcium tetrahydrogen diorthophosphate.
  Molecular formula:	Ca(H2PO4)2 H20
  CAS No:	7758-23-8
  Physical appearance:	white crystalline powder
  Other information:	may cause skin, eyes and respiratory irritation.

  
  Journal Articles and References
  
  (ii) Dicalcium phosphate
  
  Manufactured from phophoric acid, dicalcium phosphate is used as an antioxidant in food, an abrasive agent in toothpaste (dicalcium phosphate dihydrate) as well as being a firming agent. Available in the anhydrous or dihydrate forms.
  
  Typical products include tinned and packaged fruit deserts, granular food products.
  
  

  Other names:	Calcium hydrogen orthophosphate, calcium phosphate dibasic.
  Molecular formula:	CaHPO4

  
  Journal Articles and References
  
  (iii)Tricalcium phosphate
  
  Some form of tricalcium phosphate is found to make up 60% of non-cellular bone structure and 70% of teeth in an average adult. Synthetic tricalcium phosphate is added to table salt, sugar, baking powder and fertilisers to give a 'free-flowing' quality. It is prepared from naturally derived calcium phosphate.
  
  Typical products include salt, sugar and other granular foods, packet sauce mixes, cake mixes etc.
  
  

  Other names:	tricalcium diorthophosphate, calcium phosphate tribasic.
  Molecular formula:	Ca5(PO4)3OH

  
  Journal Articles and References
  
  
• E343 Magnesium phosphates
  
  (i) monomagnesium phosphate
  
  (ii) Dimagnesium phosphate
  
  
• E421 Mannitol (also a Sweetener)
  
  Mannitol is used as a dietary supplement and dietetic sweetener. It is the product of reduction of mannose, a sugar. Occurs naturally in the wood of coniferous trees, but manufactured commercially by hydrogenation of invert sugar (glucose and fructose), monosaccharides and sucrose.
  
  Typical products include sweets, ice cream, sugar-free products.
  
  

  Other names:	1,2,3,4,5,6-hexanehexol, mannite, manna sugar
  Molecular formula:	HOCH2(CHOH)4CH2OH
  CAS No:	69-65-9
  Physical appearance:	white crystalline powder
  Melting point:	167 C
  Other information:	Eye and respiratory irritant

  
  Journal Articles and References
  
  
• E470a Sodium, potassium and calcium salts of fatty acids (also Emulsifiers)
  
  
• E470b Magnesium salts of fatty acids (also an Emulsifier)
  
  
• E504 Magnesium carbonates (also Acidity Regulators)
  
  (i) Magnesium carbonate
  
  Magnesium carbonate is used mainly as a buffer and anti-caking agent, but it is also used as an anti-bleaching agent.
  
  Typical products include sugar, salt, other granular foods,
  
  

  Other names:	magnesium carbonate, magnesium (II) carbonate n-hydrate
  Molecular formula:	MgCO3 nH2O
  CAS No:	23389-33-5
  Physical appearance:	white powder
  Other information:	May act as a skin, eye or respiratory irritant.

  
  Journal Articles and References
  
  (ii) Magnesium hydroxide carbonate (syn. Magnesium hydrogen carbonate)
  
  Magnesium hydrogen carbonate is used mainly as a buffer and anti-caking agent, but it is also used as an anti-bleaching agent.
  
  Typical products include sugar, salt, other granular foods,
  
  Journal Articles and References
  
  
• E535 Sodium ferrocyanide (also an Acidity Regulator)
  
  
• E542 Bone phosphate
  
  
• E551 Silicon dioxide (Silica) (also an Emulsifier)
  
  
• E552 Calcium silicate
  
  
• E553a Magnesium silicates
  
  (i) Magnesium silicate
  
  (ii) Magnesium trisilicate
  
  
• E553b Talc
  
  
• E554 Sodium aluminium silicate
  
  
• E555 Potassium aluminium silicate
  
  
• E556 Calcium aluminium silicate
  
  
• E558 Bentonite
  
  
• E559 Aluminium silicate (Kaolin)
  
  
• E570 Stearic acid (Fatty acid)
  
  
  
  
• E572 Magnesium stearate, calcium stearate (also Emulsifiers)
  
  
• E900 Dimethyl polysiloxane (also an Anti-Foaming Agent)
  
  

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