First, let's understand what an anti-caking agent is. An anti-caking agent, as the name suggests, is a substance that prevents the clumping of substances. In table salt, the main function of the anti-caking agent is to prevent the salt from absorbing water and agglomerating in a humid environment. In this way, whether during cooking or storage, the table salt retains its fine granular form, which is convenient for us to use.
Common salt anti-caking agents mainly include ferrous iron, calcium silicate, etc. The amount of these substances added to table salt is very small and does not cause any health effects. At the same time, they have also undergone strict safety assessment to ensure that they will not cause harm to the human body under normal use conditions.
As a common salt anti-caking agent, the safety of ferrous iron has always attracted much attention. In fact, ferrous iron is found in very low levels of table salt and only decomposes at high temperatures to produce trace amounts of cyanide. However, in our daily cooking process, table salt is not heated enough to cause it to decompose. Therefore, you can rest assured that you can use table salt with added ferrous iron***.
In addition to ferrous iron***, calcium silicate is also a common salt anti-caking agent. Calcium silicate is an inorganic salt with good hygroscopicity and knot resistance. Adding calcium silicate to table salt can not only effectively prevent salt from clumping, but also improve the purity of table salt to a certain extent.
Of course, countries have strict regulations and standards for the use of anti-caking agents. In China, the use of food additives must comply with national standards and regulations to ensure food safety. Therefore, when you buy salt, you can choose regular brands and channels to ensure the quality and safety of salt.
In conclusion, the anti-caking agent in table salt is not something to be feared. They are simply a substance that is added for better preservation and use of table salt. As long as we understand their role and safety, we can use table salt with confidence and enjoy the pleasure of food.