E559 is aluminium silicate (kaolin), an anticaking agent. Regulation (EU) No 380/2012 deleted E559 from the EU list of additives because it can be replaced by other additives; the amended list marks E559 as authorised until 31 January 2014.
Did you know? According to the JECFA monograph, E559 (kaolin) is a native hydrated aluminium silicate, freed from most of its impurities by elutriation and drying.
EFSA (2008) found that intake in some population groups can exceed the tolerable weekly intake (TWI); the EU therefore cut the maximum use levels and removed some of these additives (Regulation (EU) 380/2012). This is what puts it at the middle level of the Yenzo Scale.
Wheat flour, vegetable oil, salt, sugar, anticaking agent (559), dried onion and garlic, pepper, natural colour (160a).
It is aluminium silicate (kaolin) (INS 559). The JECFA monograph defines it as a native hydrated aluminium silicate, a soft whitish powder, with the function of anticaking agent. Regulation (EU) No 380/2012 counts E559 among the aluminium-containing food additives.
In 2008 EFSA set a tolerable weekly intake (TWI) for aluminium of 1 mg/kg body weight per week, covering aluminium from all dietary sources. In 2011 JECFA set a PTWI of 2 mg/kg body weight for total aluminium, applying to all aluminium compounds in food, including food additives. These are values for aluminium in total, not a separate ADI for E559. EFSA notes cereals and cereal products, vegetables, beverages and certain infant formulae as the main contributors.
“The TWI of 1 mg/kg bw/week is therefore likely to be exceeded in a significant part of the European population.”
EFSA Journal (2008). Safety of aluminium from dietary intake - Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Food Additives, Flavourings, Processing Aids and Food Contact Materials (AFC)
Appendix 1 of Circular 24/2019/TT-BYT, the list of additives permitted in food, has no row for INS 559. INS 559 appears only in one note of Appendix 2A, in the table of sodium aluminosilicate (INS 554): note 174 "Dùng đơn lẻ hoặc kết hợp: INS 554, INS 556 và INS 559" (chewing gum).
Updated 21 October 2026
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