Are Nanomaterials Used In Foods?
It is being reported that nanomaterials are used as auxiliaries and additives in foods. For instance, silicic acid and other silicon-containing compounds are said to be used as anticaking agents or thickeners to prevent table salt crystals and powder-form foods from sticking together and to make ketchup pour more easily. Silicic acid is also used as a flocculant in wine and fruit juice production. It is not yet clear whether silicic acid is actually used as a nanomaterial. Nanomaterials are also allegedly used specifically as food supplements. There are reports of the use of inorganic materials such as silicon dioxide, colloidal silver, calcium and magnesium in nanoparticle form. It is not clear whether these materials are present in foods as nanoparticles or in aggregate form. The food industry is currently developing functional foods in which vitamins, omega 3 fatty acids, phytosterols and aromas are enclosed in nanocapsules made of organic materials such as liposomes and then released at a specific spot in the body.
