YenzoWhich foods contain anticaking agents?
The source Yenzo cites for this group only defines the function and does not list specific foods, so Yenzo gives no list here. Each code in the group has its own page; see the page of that code.
Anticaking agents in food
Anticaking agents are substances that reduce the tendency of individual particles of a foodstuff to adhere to one another. They are added to food for that purpose. This definition follows Annex I of Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Union.
Vietnam regulates additives through a list of permitted additives (Circular 24/2019/TT-BYT, referencing international Codex standards); a substance not on the list is not permitted in Vietnam, and that is the first tier of the Yenzo Scale — see how levels are set.
Anticaking agents: high risk
High risk on Yenzo's scale. The cases at this level: it is not permitted in Vietnam (Circular 24/2019); neither JECFA nor EFSA has an ADI for it; a regulator withdrew it for safety reasons and no evaluator kept an ADI; nitrites and nitrates (EFSA 2023). How we score →
4 of 30
Anticaking agents: very low risk
Very low risk: no concern at the levels used in food. How we score →
13 of 30
E170Calcium carbonatesE421MannitolE460CelluloseE470Salts of fatty acids (type not printed)E470aSodium, potassium and calcium salts of fatty acidsE470bMagnesium salts of fatty acidsE500Sodium carbonatesE504Magnesium carbonatesE530Magnesium oxideE570Fatty acidsE903Carnauba waxE953IsomaltE1442Hydroxypropyl distarch phosphate
Fun fact. Calcium silicate is a water-insoluble, white, fine powder. It is synthetically produced from silicon dioxide and calcium oxide in various ratios, and is also obtained from naturally occurring limestone and diatomaceous earth. One study produced mesoporous calcium silica aerogels for use as an anticaking food additive in powdered foods. The starting material was sodium silicate, a low-cost precursor. Source: Production and Characterization of Calcium Silica Aerogel Powder as a Food Additive (ACS Omega, 2023)
Frequently asked questions about anticaking agents
How can I recognise anticaking agents on a label?
Labels usually write the group name with the INS number, for example “anticaking agent (551)”. A label may also write the E code, the INS code or the name of the substance. The same substance can be written in different ways.
Which anticaking agents are the most common?
Yenzo does not rank codes. Some codes of this group have a page on Yenzo: E551 (silicon dioxide (amorphous)), E552 (calcium silicate), E460 (cellulose). Each of them has a row in Appendix 1 of Circular 24/2019/TT-BYT with the function “chất chống đông vón” (anticaking agent).
Other categories
PreservativesColoursSweetenersFlavour enhancersEmulsifiersThickenersAntioxidantsAcidity regulatorsGlazing agentsStabilizersGelling agentsSequestrantsFlour treatment agentsHumectantsCarriersColour retention agentsFirming agentsEmulsifying saltsBulking agentsFoaming agentsRaising agentsPackaging gasesPropellantsAntifoaming agentsBleaching agentsCarbonating agentsFlavourings
Updated 28 October 2026