The Commission of the European Union (EU) in June 2017, amended its regulations applicable to food additives to approve the use of silicon dioxide as a anti-caking agent in potassium nitrate, a meat additive. The European Commission had given permission for silicon dioxide (E551) to be used as an anti-caking agent in potassium nitrate (E252). Potassium nitrate is frequently used by the food industry to cure and preserve meats against microbial agents and to maintain the desired colour of meats and hard cheeses. Therefore, the approval of these anti caking ingredients, is expected to increase their application and trade of silicon dioxide even further in the European and also all over the world, for the various application in the food industry.

Food manufacturers will often add anti-caking agents at some point during the production process to optimize manufacturing of the processed food in Europe. Reducing clumping and moisture-absorption means lower costs for sugar, flour and other staple ingredients in the pantry, thereby adding anti caking agents, reduces the overall cost of the processed food.

For instance, Anti-caking agents such as JELUCEL® cellulose from the German company such as JELU-WERK J. Ehrler GmbH & Co. KG are indispensable in the food industry. They are being used as anti-sticking agents for confectionery, as anti-clumping agents in cheese processing and as free-flow agents in the manufacture and processing of powdered foodstuffs. Moroever, JELUCEL® is an organic anti-caking agent that consists of pure powdered cellulose, thereby increasing its application as an speciality ingredient in European market.