Magnesium trisilicate is an inorganic compound that is used as a food additive. The additive is frequently used by fast food chains to absorb fatty acids and extract impurities formed while frying edible oils.[1] It has good acid neutralizing properties, but the reaction appears too slow to serve as an effective non-prescription antacid.[2]

Magnesium trisilicate
Structural formula of magnesium trisilicate
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
Dimagnesium dioxido-bis[(oxido-oxosilyl)oxy]silane
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChEMBL
ChemSpider
DrugBank
ECHA InfoCard 100.035.509 Edit this at Wikidata
EC Number
  • 239-076-7
UNII
  • InChI=1S/2Mg.O8Si3/c;;1-9(2)7-11(5,6)8-10(3)4/q2*+2;-4
    Key: GXGAKHNRMVGRPK-UHFFFAOYSA-N
  • [O-][Si](=O)O[Si]([O-])([O-])O[Si](=O)[O-].[Mg+2].[Mg+2]
  • [Mg++].[Mg++].[O-][Si](=O)O[Si]([O-])([O-])O[Si]([O-])=O
Properties
Mg2O8Si3
Molar mass 260.857 g·mol−1
Appearance White crystals
Odor Odourless
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).

Health effects

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On March 12, 2007, Chinese health authorities halted the use of magnesium trisilicate at Shaanxi Province KFC franchises, suspecting it to be a possible carcinogen.[3] As a response, China's Ministry of Health conducted tests at six outlets of KFC.[4] The results showed chemicals in the cooking process at KFC restaurants in the country were not harmful.[5] The Ministry of Health said tests showed that using the product to filter cooking oil had no apparent impact on health. Food scares regularly sweep the Chinese media.[6]

References

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  1. ^ Alamgir, A. N. M. (2018), Therapeutic Use of Medicinal Plants and their Extracts: Volume 2: Phytochemistry and Bioactive Compounds, Progress in Drug Research, vol. 74, Springer, p. 377, ISBN 978-3319923871
  2. ^ Washington, Neena (1991), Antacids and Anti Reflux Agents, CRC Press, p. 6, ISBN 0849354447
  3. ^ "Suspect additive found in KFC". Xinhua News Agency. March 12, 2007. Archived from the original on March 15, 2007.
  4. ^ "Chinese Health Ministry Okays KFC". Medindia. March 14, 2007.
  5. ^ "China officials clear KFC". QSRweb. March 14, 2007. Archived from the original on November 14, 2011. Retrieved September 22, 2011.
  6. ^ "China officials clear KFC after food scare". Reuters. March 13, 2007.