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E553b Talc

E553bAnti-caking agentsOrigin: Mineral
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The short answer
Talc (E553b) is a fine mineral powder that keeps chewing gum and candy from sticking. It is considered safe in food when it is tested to be free of asbestos, which is the real safety question.
Use in moderation

Safe in small amounts; may bother some people or raise blood sugar.

E-numberE553b
Comes fromMineral
What it doesAnti-caking agents
Glycemic index—
Daily limitNot set
Also calledTalc, Talcum

Rules by country

🇺🇸 US FDAApproved with limits
🇪🇺 European UnionApproved with limits
🇨🇦 Health CanadaApproved with limits
CaliforniaNo extra rules

The US permits food-grade talc only for listed uses such as coating chewing gum and some confectionery. The EU and Canada allow it under purity criteria. Asbestos testing is the central safety requirement for any talc used in food.

Daily limit: Experts haven’t set a number because normal food amounts are far below any level of concern.

What is it?

Talc is the soft mineral in baby powder, purified for food. It is a dusting agent: a light coat keeps gum from sticking to the wrapper and stops sugar coatings from clumping. It passes through the body without being absorbed.

Where it comes from: A soft mineral mined from magnesium-rich rock and then milled and purified. Food-grade talc must be tested to be free of the asbestos-like fibers found in some deposits.

Why it’s in food

  • Stops chewing gum sticking
  • Dusts sugar-coated candy
  • Keeps dried fruit from clumping
  • Makes tablets slide smoothly

Often found in

Chewing gumSugar-coated candySome dried fruitConfectionery dustingPharmaceutical tablets (not food)

Also listed as: Talc, Talcum, Hydrated magnesium silicate, Magnesium silicate

Health & gut impact

Asbestos contaminationUnder study

Talc deposits can contain asbestos-like fibers. Food-grade talc must be tested and shown to be free of them, and that test is the main safety question.

EU purity criteria for E553b

IngestionConcern

Talc is not absorbed from food. The concern is contamination, not the mineral itself.

US FDA food additive listings

Dust candy and dough without talc

For your pantry
Pantry staple

Cornstarch

A plain starch for dusting candy and dough.

Shop cornstarch Opens your country’s Amazon store
Pantry staple

Rice flour

Fine and neutral, for dusting dough.

Shop white rice flour Opens your country’s Amazon store
Clean grocery swap

Sugar-free gum, no dusting

Gum that uses only plant-based base ingredients.

Shop plant-based gum Opens your country’s Amazon store

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What can I use instead?

Cornstarch

Ratio: To dust

Best for: Dusting sticky doughs and candies

Rice flour

Ratio: To dust

Best for: Homemade candy coatings

Related

More anti-caking agents:

Calcium Phosphates (Tricalcium Phosphate) E341Calcium phosphates (E341) keep powders flowing, make baking powder rise and add calcium to plant milks. They're safe for most people, but phosphate additives add up, which matters for anyone with kidney disease.Use in moderationDimethylpolysiloxane E900Dimethylpolysiloxane (E900) is a food-grade silicone that stops frying oil from foaming. It sounds alarming, but it's used at a few parts per million and passes through the body unabsorbed.Use in moderationMagnesium carbonate E504Magnesium carbonate (E504) is a fine mineral powder that keeps table salt and spice blends free-flowing. It's vegan, gluten-free and safe at the small levels used in food.Generally safeMagnesium stearate E572Magnesium stearate (E572) is a fine powder that stops powders and supplement tablets from sticking to machines. It is approved in food and supplements, and it is vegan only when the fat behind it is plant-based.Generally safe

Common questions

Is talc in food dangerous?

Food-grade talc is considered acceptable when it is tested and free of asbestos fibers. Untested or contaminated talc is the concern.

Is Talc safe?

Use in moderation (66/100). The US permits food-grade talc only for listed uses such as coating chewing gum and some confectionery. The EU and Canada allow it under purity criteria. Asbestos testing is the central safety requirement for any talc used in food.

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Scientific sources & regulatory citations
  • EFSA OpenFoodTox: E553b
  • EU purity criteria for E553b
  • US FDA food additive listings

INS 553b · CAS 14807-96-6