ANTI-CAKING AGENT
Anti-caking agents function either by adsorbing excess moisture, or by coating particles and making them water repellent. Some anticaking agents are soluble in water; others are soluble in alcohols or other organic solvents. Calcium silicate (CaSiO3), a common anti-caking agent which is added to table salt etc. adsorbs both water and oil. Although they are food additives, anti-caking agent has other applications too. For example, anticaking agents are popularly used in non-food items like road salt, fertilizers, cosmetics, synthetic detergents, and in other such manufacturing applications.
An anti-caking agent in salt is denoted in the ingredients, for example, as “anti-caking agent”, which is sodium aluminosilicate, a man-made product. This product is present in many commercial table salts as well as dried milks, egg mixes, sugar products, and flours. In Europe, sodium ferrocyanide and potassium ferrocyanide are more common anti-caking agents in table salt. Natural anticaking agents used in more expensive table salt include calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate.
Some anti-caking agents are soluble in water; others are soluble in alcohols or other organic solvents. They function either by adsorbing excess moisture, or by coating particles and making them water repellent. Calcium silicate (CaSiO3), a commonly used anti-caking agent, added to e.g., table salt, absorbs both water and oil.
Anti-caking agents are also used in non-food items such as road salt, fertilizers, cosmetics, synthetic detergents, and in manufacturing applications.
Examples of Anti Caking Agents Food
Some of the common examples of foods that contain anti-caking agents include:
- Vending machine powders (coffee, cocoa, soup)
- Milk and cream powders
- Grated cheese
- Icing sugar
- Baking powder
- Cake mixes
- Instant soup powders
- Drinking chocolate
- Table salt
Function of anti-caking agents
Is created by coating particles and making them water repellent. Some anticaking agents are soluble in water; others are soluble in alcohols or other organic solvents. Calcium silicate (CaSiO3), a common anti-caking agent which is added to table salt etc. adsorbs both water and oil. Although they are food additives, anti-caking agents have other applications too. For example, anticaking agents are popularly used in non-food items like road salt, fertilizers, cosmetics, synthetic detergents, and in other such manufacturing applications.