INS 551 is the code for silicon dioxide
Keeps powders free-flowing - spice mixes, instant soups, powdered drinks, salt.
- What it does
- Stops it clumping An anti-caking agent
- Also printed as
- Silica · Amorphous silicon dioxide
- Vegetarian?
- Vegetarian From minerals
- In the Zabel score
- 2 of the 20 additive points Method 1.0.0
- In our catalogue
- 221 packs List it in their ingredients
Is INS 551 vegetarian?
INS 551 is from minerals, so it does not by itself make a food non-vegetarian. The green or brown mark on the pack is still the declaration to go by, because it covers every other ingredient too.
| Food category | Share | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Chips and crisps | 33% | |
| Other snacks | 16% | |
| Noodles and pasta | 13% | |
| Sauces and condiments | 11% | |
| Nuts and dried fruit | 8% | |
| Everything else | 19% |
Counted from the 221 packs in Zabel's catalogue that list INS 551, 188 of which have a food category so far. Counted 4 Nov 2026.
What does the evidence say about INS 551?
We grade an additive by the evidence about it, not by whether it sounds like a chemical, and we make no claim about whether a pack complies with FSSAI rules.
JECFA has identified no concern at food levels and set no numerical ADI. EFSA's re-evaluation could not complete a full assessment without better data on particle size, and asked for specifications limiting the nanoscale fraction; that work is ongoing rather than a finding of harm.
Does Zabel mark INS 551 down?
Yes, by 2 points. The additives part of the score starts at 20, and each code takes off a fixed amount set by the strength of the evidence about it, not by the fact that it is an additive (method 1.0.0). Read the method.
Questions people search
What is INS 551?
INS 551 is the code for silicon dioxide, an anti-caking agent. Keeps powders free-flowing - spice mixes, instant soups, powdered drinks, salt.
Is INS 551 vegetarian?
INS 551 is from minerals, so it does not by itself make a food non-vegetarian. The green or brown mark on the pack is still the declaration to go by, because it covers every other ingredient too.
What does the evidence say about INS 551?
JECFA has identified no concern at food levels and set no numerical ADI. EFSA's re-evaluation could not complete a full assessment without better data on particle size, and asked for specifications limiting the nanoscale fraction; that work is ongoing rather than a finding of harm.
Does Zabel mark INS 551 down?
Yes, by 2 points. The additives part of the score starts at 20, and each code takes off a fixed amount set by the strength of the evidence about it, not by the fact that it is an additive (method 1.0.0).
What other names is INS 551 printed under?
Packs also print it as Silica and Amorphous silicon dioxide, or as the bare number 551 in brackets after the ingredient.
Sources
- 01 Evaluations of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) WHO / FAO, 2024
- 02 Zabel catalogue - pack counts, food categories and the codes printed alongside 4 Nov 2026
Entry updated 19 Sep 2026 · Not reviewed by a dietitian yet · Report an error on this page
Point the camera at the pack.
Zabel reads every INS code on it, shows the score, and shows the working.