Dimethylpolysiloxane E900
glazing agent — Primarily synthetic.
Poly(dimethylsiloxane)
CAS: 63148-62-9
Factual Regulatory Reference
This database provides factual regulatory information compiled from official government sources. It does not constitute medical, nutritional, or safety advice. Regulatory status varies by country and is subject to change. Always refer to your local regulatory authority for the most current information.
What Is Dimethylpolysiloxane?
Dimethylpolysiloxane (polydimethylsiloxane, PDMS) is a silicone polymer used as an anti-foaming agent in cooking oils, frying fats, fruit juices, and beverages. At maximum permitted levels (typically 10 mg/kg in frying oils), it prevents foam formation during high-temperature frying and reduces oil splattering. JECFA established an ADI of 0–1.5 mg/kg body weight. EFSA reviewed PDMS in 2014 and revised the ADI to 6 mg/kg body weight for food use. Approved in EU, USA (GRAS), Japan, Canada, and Australia. Also widely used in personal care products and medical devices.
? Did You Know?
Beyond food, Dimethylpolysiloxane is also used in cosmetics, medicine, industrial applications, household products. Its versatility makes it one of the most multi-purpose chemical compounds in everyday life.
To reach the Acceptable Daily Intake limit, a 60kg adult would need to consume approximately ~9 L liters of frying oil containing PDMS at 10 ppm in a single day. (This is a mathematical illustration, not a safety recommendation.)
Regulatory Analysis
Dimethylpolysiloxane (PDMS, E900) gained unusual public attention in 2014 following media reports that McDonald's Chicken McNuggets and french fries contained it. The regulatory profile, however, had been stable for decades: JECFA established an ADI of 1.5 mg/kg body weight in 1999 and EFSA confirmed the same value in 2007. Maximum permitted levels in frying oils are typically 10 mg/kg, which means actual consumer exposure is far below the ADI. McDonald's decision in 2016 to remove PDMS from McNuggets was a commercial response to consumer pressure rather than a regulatory requirement. No jurisdiction issued any restriction on E900 as a result of the public debate. The additive is used at trace concentrations as a process aid rather than as a functional ingredient in the finished food, which distinguishes its regulatory rationale from most food additives; it is present to assist the manufacturing process, not to confer properties to the final product.
Detailed Regulatory Assessment
European Union (EFSA)
Authorized for specific food categories
United States (FDA)
Approved as defoaming agent in processing foods, up to 10 ppm
Japan (MHLW)
Used as anti-foaming agent
Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI)
International Standard (JECFA)
mg/kg body weight per day
European Standard (EFSA)
Everyday Perspective
For a 60kg adult, this limit is roughly equivalent to consuming:
Natural Occurrence
This additive is not known to occur naturally in significant quantities.
Manufacturing
Produced by hydrolysis and polymerization of dichlorodimethylsilane, derived from silicon and methyl chloride.
Applications Beyond Food
Hair conditioners, skin moisturizers, makeup products
Anti-gas medication (simethicone), tablet coating
Lubricants, sealants, adhesives, hydraulic fluids
Silly Putty, contact lens solution, fabric softener