Silicon dioxide
This page explains what Silicon dioxide is, where it shows up in restaurant food, and which ingredient reports connect to it.
- Concern
- Low / Limited Concern
- Function
- Anticaking agent
- Updated
- 2026-02-25
What this is
Silicon dioxide (silica) is a mineral-based food additive often used to keep powdered foods from clumping together. Chemically, it’s the same substance as sand or quartz, but in food it appears as a very fine, purified powder. Fast-food chains and manufacturers add tiny amounts of silica to products like seasoning mixes, salt, and powdered creamers so they flow freely. Health authorities consider these trace amounts safe to eat. Importantly, the form of silica used in food is not known to cause disease in consumers. The only serious silica-related risks are from breathing in crystalline silica dust in industrial settings, which can harm the lungs.
Critical Endpoints
The key endpoints experts review in safety assessments (critical endpoints). This is not a prediction of harm.
Restaurant Usage
8 linked ingredient reports
State Actions
0 current actions
No current state action is listed for this ingredient in the policy tracker.