Foods Containing E559 (Kaolin)
E559 (Kaolin) is a natural clay, used as a anti-caking agent to help stop powders and granules clumping together. Here's where you're most likely to find it on food labels.
Common foods that contain E559
E559 is used across table salt, spice mixes, powdered drinks, grated cheese and dry mixes. The foods where it appears most often include:
- Table salt
- Spice mixes
- Powdered drinks
- Grated cheese and dry mixes
Exact usage varies by brand and recipe — the only way to know for certain whether a specific product contains E559 is to check its ingredients list, where it must be declared by law, either as "E559" or as "Kaolin".
How to spot E559 on a label
In the UK and EU, additives must appear in the ingredients list with their function and either their E-number or full name — for example "anti-caking agents: E559" or "anti-caking agents: kaolin". In the US the E-number system isn't used, so look for the full name "Kaolin" instead.
Should you avoid foods containing E559?
E559 is considered safe. It is authorised across the EU, UK and US, and safety evaluations by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have not identified health concerns at the levels used in food. For most people there is no reason to avoid E559.
Full guide to E559: safety, vegan and halal status →
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Additive data sourced from Open Food Facts (ODbL licence) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).