Talc
Function: Thickeners
E553B is the European food-additive number for Talc, a thickener used to increase viscosity and give body to a food. Talc (E553b) is a thickener used as a food additive.
What is E553B used for?
Talc (E553B) is a thickener used to increase viscosity and give body to a food. It is added during food production for a technological purpose rather than for nutrition. See all Thickeners (E-numbers).
Is E553B safe or restricted?
E553B is an approved food additive in the EU and currently carries no special regulatory restrictions in the EU additive register. Forkin classifies it as “No known concern” and does not make health claims. See the methodology for how regulatory levels are assigned, or the guide to how EU additives are approved, re-evaluated and banned.
Is E553B vegan or vegetarian?
Talc (E553B) is typically produced from plant, mineral, or synthetic sources, so it is generally suitable for vegans and vegetarians.
The production source can vary between manufacturers. The Forkin app shows product-specific vegan and vegetarian signals where available, based on ingredient and label data. Always read the label for allergens.
Which foods contain E553B?
E553B appears in 1,642 of the 5.0 million products in Forkin's catalogue, most often in Dietary Supplements, Chewing Gum, and Multivitamin.
- Dietary Supplements224
- Chewing Gum173
- Multivitamin149
- Candy & Sweets95
- Sausages90
- Vitamins & Supplements56
- Magnesium52
- Food Coloring / Decorations52
Often appears alongside
Additives most frequently found in the same ingredient lists as E553B across the catalogue.
Counts reflect Forkin's independently enriched product catalogue and update as new products are added. They are not a market-share statistic.
Frequently asked questions about E553B
- What is E553B?
- E553B is the E-number for Talc, a thickener used to increase viscosity and give body to a food. Talc (E553b) is a thickener used as a food additive.
- What is E553B used for?
- Talc (E553B) is a thickener used to increase viscosity and give body to a food. Manufacturers add it during processing rather than for nutrition. The Forkin app shows which products in your scan history actually contain it.
- Which foods contain E553B?
- E553B appears in 1,642 of the 5.0 million products in Forkin's catalogue, most often in Dietary Supplements, Chewing Gum, and Multivitamin. Scan any barcode with the Forkin app to see instantly whether a specific product contains it.
- Is E553B vegan or vegetarian?
- Talc (E553B) is typically produced from plant, mineral, or synthetic sources, so it is generally suitable for vegans and vegetarians. The Forkin app shows product-specific vegan and vegetarian signals where available, based on ingredient and label data, since the source can vary between manufacturers.
- Is E553B safe, and is it banned anywhere?
- E553B is an approved food additive in the EU and currently carries no special regulatory restrictions in the EU additive register. Forkin classifies it as ‘No known concern’ and does not make health claims. See the methodology page for how regulatory levels are assigned, and the Forkin app for the full profile, including acceptable daily intake (ADI) and restrictions by country.