SODIUM CALCIUM ALUMINOSILICATE, HYDRATED

CAS: 1344-01-0

Sodium calcium aluminosilicate, hydrated is listed in the FDA Substances Added to Food Inventory and recognized under 21 CFR 182.2729 as a permitted anticaking agent with use conditions.

What It Is

Sodium calcium aluminosilicate, hydrated is an inorganic, hydrated aluminosilicate compound identified by the CAS number 1344-01-0, used in food applications primarily for its technical functions in manufacturing and processing. It belongs to the class of anticaking agents or silicate mineral derivatives, and multiple synonyms reflect its chemical structure, including hydrated sodium calcium silicoaluminate and other related nomenclature. Its structure consists of aluminium, calcium, sodium, silicon, and oxygen atoms arranged in a silicate framework, forming white or off-white powdered materials in its typical commercial form. While many silicate mineral derivatives have various technical uses in food and industry, here it is specifically mentioned in regulatory inventories for food use in the United States under defined conditions. The designation as an anticaking or processing aid describes materials that help prevent clumping or improve free-flow properties in dry blends of food and seasoning products. It may also reduce localized moisture interaction in powdered food systems. As an inorganic substance with limited solubility in water, its functionality derives from its surface properties rather than a nutritional contribution or flavor impact.

How It Is Made

Commercial manufacturing of sodium calcium aluminosilicate, hydrated involves high-temperature processes typical for producing silicate materials. These processes may include reacting sources of silica with aluminium-, calcium- and sodium-bearing compounds under controlled conditions that yield an aluminosilicate framework with incorporated cations. The hydrated form indicates that some water molecules are integrated into the solid structure, commonly achieved by controlled hydrothermal treatment during processing. Industrial routes for similar aluminosilicates can involve melting and quenching, sol-gel methods, or precipitation from alkaline solutions followed by drying and calcination, though proprietary variations exist among manufacturers. For food-grade materials, production is conducted under quality controls to ensure that contaminants are minimized and physical properties like particle size and surface area remain consistent with food applications. Specifications defining limits for heavy metals, insoluble residues, and other impurities are typically established by regulatory or standards organizations applicable to food additives.

Why It Is Used In Food

Sodium calcium aluminosilicate, hydrated is used in the food industry due to its ability to improve the handling and quality of powdered products. Its physical properties help prevent clumping, enhance flowability, and maintain texture in food blends that might be sensitive to moisture or pressure. In dry mix formulations, such anticaking agents ensure that ingredients remain free-flowing during storage, transport, and consumer use, which is particularly valuable for products like seasonings, powdered soups, and dry mixes. Manufacturers may also rely on such agents to promote uniformity in blending and to facilitate accurate portioning and packaging. Beyond functional benefits in manufacturing, these additives contribute to consistent product quality and shelf stability, aligning with good manufacturing practices for many powdered or granulated food products. While not contributing flavor or nutritional value, their role in maintaining product integrity is critical in many commercial formulations.

Adi Example Calculation

Because sodium calcium aluminosilicate, hydrated does not have a specific numeric ADI assigned by regulators such as JECFA or EFSA in the authoritative sources d here, a standard illustrative calculation using an ADI is not applicable. Instead, this section explains the general method: if an ADI were defined (for example, in mg per kg of body weight per day), one would multiply the ADI by a hypothetical body weight to determine the maximum daily amount considered acceptable for that individual. For instance, with a hypothetical ADI of X mg per kg body weight per day, a product’s contribution could be compared to calculate percent of ADI consumed given typical serving sizes. In practice, regulatory limits such as maximum percentage use in food formulations and good manufacturing practice ensure that intake remains within safety margins without the need for specific numeric calculation in many cases.

Safety And Health Research

Scientific and regulatory evaluations of silicate-based anticaking agents, including sodium calcium aluminosilicate, hydrated, focus on their physical and chemical properties, as these materials are generally considered to have low bioavailability when ingested in typical food quantities. Available regulatory listings such as the FDA inventory reflect historical reviews of safety for specific uses. In parallel, some scientific literature addresses hydrated aluminosilicate materials in contexts such as animal feed and contaminant binding, but toxicity and safety profiles can differ depending on specific composition and application. Data from such research provide insights into how aluminosilicate minerals interact with other substances, though direct human toxicological data specific to this compound in food contexts may be limited. Overall, safety assessments prioritize ensuring that technical use levels remain within regulatory allowances and do not introduce contaminants or harmful impurities into food products. Because these additives are largely inert and insoluble, systemic exposure from typical food uses is considered minimal.

Regulatory Status Worldwide

In the United States, sodium calcium aluminosilicate, hydrated is recognized in the FDA Substances Added to Food Inventory and is listed under 21 CFR 182.2729 as a substance that is generally recognized as safe when used at levels not exceeding 2 percent in accordance with good manufacturing practice. This regulation outlines the conditions under which the substance may be used in food processing and establishes its status for regulatory compliance. In the European Union, a substance must appear on the Union list of authorized food additives with an assigned E number to be permitted for use in food products. At this time, there is no clear evidence from available EU databases that sodium calcium aluminosilicate, hydrated is assigned an E number or approved under EU Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008; therefore, its status in the EU should be verified through the official European Commission food additives database. For international standards like JECFA, the committee’s records indicate evaluations of related silicate compounds, but specific modern specifications or an assigned INS number for sodium calcium aluminosilicate, hydrated were not found in the available JECFA documentation, and details about a specific ADI or year of evaluation were not clearly provided. Regulatory status and conditions of use may vary across jurisdictions, and manufacturers typically rely on local regulatory documentation to determine permissible use.

Taste And Functional Properties

Sodium calcium aluminosilicate, hydrated is largely inert in food systems and does not significantly contribute taste or aroma at the levels typically used. Its primary sensory impact is neutral, making it suitable for use in a wide range of dry food products without altering the intended flavor profile. Functionally, the material behaves as an anticaking agent, adsorbing small amounts of moisture at its surface and maintaining separation among particles in a blend. This helps preserve free flow and uniform texture. Because it is insoluble in water and stable under a broad range of pH conditions, it does not react with food ingredients in typical applications. Its functional properties derive from its physical structure rather than chemical reactivity. In practice, manufacturers consider aspects like particle size distribution, surface area, and interaction with other components in a formulation when selecting an additive for a specific use case.

Acceptable Daily Intake Explained

An acceptable daily intake (ADI) is a concept used by regulatory bodies to express the amount of a substance that can be ingested daily over a lifetime without appreciable health risk, based on available toxicology data and safety factors. For many inorganic anticaking agents including hydrated silicates, regulators may not establish a numeric ADI when they deem that normal use levels and lack of systemic absorption pose minimal risk, and instead focus on good manufacturing practices and maximum use levels. In the case of sodium calcium aluminosilicate, hydrated, the FDA’s listing under 21 CFR 182.2729 does not assign a numeric ADI but sets conditions for use consistent with current industry norms. When numeric ADIs are not assigned, it reflects regulatory judgment that ordinary dietary exposure is unlikely to be a safety concern provided the substance is used as intended and does not exceed defined usage levels. Manufacturers should adhere to those regulatory limits to align with safety frameworks.

Comparison With Similar Additives

Sodium calcium aluminosilicate, hydrated shares functional similarities with other anticaking agents like synthetic amorphous sodium aluminosilicate (INS 554) and calcium silicate (INS 552) in that they help maintain free-flow and reduce clumping in powdered food products. While amorphous sodium aluminosilicate has an assigned E number and broader regulatory acceptance in some regions, the hydrated calcium-containing form may be chosen for specific formulations based on physical characteristics such as particle size and moisture interaction. Calcium silicate, another inorganic anticaking agent, also performs a similar role by providing moisture adsorption and flowability enhancement, but each agent’s chemistry and interaction with food components can differ slightly. Manufacturers consider factors such as regulatory status in target markets, compatibility with other ingredients, and regulatory limits when selecting among these options. Comparisons to bentonite and kaolin, other silicate minerals used in niche applications, highlight the diversity of aluminosilicate-based additives; each can vary in structure and functional behavior in foods, and regulatory acceptance may differ across jurisdictions.

Common Food Applications Narrative

Sodium calcium aluminosilicate, hydrated is applied in a variety of dry food formulations where managing moisture and maintaining free-flowing characteristics are important. For example, in seasonings that combine salt, herbs, and spices, the inclusion of an anticaking agent can reduce clumping and ensure that consumers experience consistent texture and pourability from the first use to the last. In powdered drink mixes and dry baking mixes, preventing aggregation helps maintain accurate measurement and distribution of ingredients when the product is prepared by the end user. Similarly, in products like grated cheese blends, spice blends, and powdered sauces, adding anticaking agents supports stable physical quality during storage and handling. These practical roles align with broader manufacturing goals to deliver dependable performance in consumer products, reduce waste, and support efficient packaging operations. Across these applications, sodium calcium aluminosilicate, hydrated serves as one component in the formulation that contributes to predictable and reliable behavior of powdered and granulated food products.

Safety & Regulations

FDA

  • Approved: True
  • Regulation: 21 CFR 182.2729

EFSA

  • Notes: Specific EU authorization status not identified in available database.

JECFA

  • Notes: JECFA evaluation details for this exact compound were not found in available sources.

Sources

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