Chicken nuggets are a popular food, especially among children. However, some people have raised concerns that chicken nuggets may contain silicone or other potentially harmful ingredients.
What are chicken nuggets?
Chicken nuggets are small pieces of processed chicken that are breaded or battered and then fried or baked. The meat inside chicken nuggets is most often made up of minced or ground chicken breast meat, with seasonings and binders added.
Here are some typical ingredients in commercial chicken nuggets:
- Ground or minced chicken breast meat
- Breadcrumbs or batter for coating
- Seasonings like salt, pepper, spices
- Binders like wheat flour or eggs to help hold the nugget together
- Oils for frying
The breading gives chicken nuggets their crispy outside texture after cooking. Commercial chicken nuggets sold in grocery stores are often pre-cooked and can simply be heated before eating.
What is silicone?
Silicone, also known as polysiloxane, is a synthetic polymer made up of silicon, oxygen, and other elements. The chemical makeup of silicone is silicon-oxygen bonds.
Some common uses of silicone include:
- Sealants, adhesives, lubricants
- Cookware handles and lids
- Insulation for electronics
- Medical implants and prosthetics
- Heat resistant parts
Silicone has a number of properties that make it useful and versatile, such as:
- Heat resistance
- Chemical stability
- Resilience and flexibility
- Low toxicity
Silicone also has interesting properties as an anti-foaming agent. The silicon-oxygen bonds create a slippery surface that inhibits bubble formation and collapses existing foam.
Is silicone added to chicken nuggets?
Silicone-based anti-foaming agents are sometimes added to processed chicken to reduce foaming during cooking. This helps improve the quality and texture of chicken products like nuggets.
Two silicones that may be added to chicken nuggets are:
- Dimethylpolysiloxane – An anti-foaming agent added in small amounts to reduce oil splattering and foam formation during frying or cooking. It helps make chicken nuggets crispy.
- Methyl hydrogen polysiloxane – Also used as an anti-foaming agent and stabilizer in fried foods.
These silicone-based compounds improve the manufacturing process. The silicones themselves are largely removed from the final chicken nugget products during cooking and processing.
Are the silicones in chicken nuggets harmful?
The amounts of silicone compounds used in chicken nuggets are very small, in the range of 20-50 parts per million according to FDA guidelines.
At these trace levels, silicone is not considered hazardous or toxic for human consumption. Silicone is chemically inert and passes through the body without being absorbed or metabolized.
Both dimethylpolysiloxane and methyl hydrogen polysiloxane are approved by the FDA as food additives. The FDA monitors the safety of chemical compounds in the food supply.
Additionally, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recently re-evaluated dimethylpolysiloxane and confirmed it does not pose a health risk as used in food manufacturing.
FDA acceptable daily intake levels of dimethylpolysiloxane
| Age Group | Acceptable Daily Intake (mg/kg body weight) |
|---|---|
| Infants | 1.5 |
| Children ages 1-6 | 1.5 |
| Children ages 7-12 | 1.1 |
| Teens ages 13-19 | 0.8 |
| Adults | 0.8 |
As this table shows, the FDA has determined the amount of dimethylpolysiloxane that can be safely consumed each day for all age groups. At the low levels used in food manufacturing, silicone intake remains far below the acceptable daily intake.
Other controversial ingredients
While silicone itself has been cleared as safe in chicken nuggets, some other controversial ingredients have been criticized over potential health effects, including:
TBHQ
TBHQ (tertiary butylhydroquinone) is an antioxidant used to preserve freshness of chicken nuggets and prevent rancidity of fats during storage. It can be made from petroleum products. The FDA approves small amounts of TBHQ as a food additive but some studies have raised concerns about toxicity, especially in high doses.
Dimethylpolysiloxane
Phosphates are sometimes added to chicken nuggets as emulsifiers and preservatives. This improves moisture retention and keeps nuggets juicy. However, high intake of phosphates is linked to health risks like osteoporosis and kidney damage.
Trans fats
Trans fats may be present in small amounts in chicken nuggets, particularly if they are fried in hydrogenated oils high in trans fats. The FDA has banned partially hydrogenated oils as food additives due to their unhealthy effects.
Are chicken nuggets healthy?
Chicken nuggets can be a tasty, convenient food but they are high in calories and fat compared to fresh chicken. Homemade nuggets baked from scratch are the healthiest option.
Here are some health considerations with chicken nuggets:
- High in calories – around 200 calories per 80g serving
- High in fats – up to 12g fat per serving
- Can contain high sodium – up to 600mg sodium per serving
- Highly processed – goes through grinding, shaping, breading, frying
- May contain unhealthy preservatives like TBHQ
For a healthier option, choose chicken nuggets without artificial preservatives, made from whole muscle rather than processed meat, and baked instead of fried. Enjoy nuggets in moderation as part of a balanced diet.
Conclusion
Small amounts of silicone are permitted as an additive in chicken nuggets and have been shown to be safe for consumption. These compounds serve as anti-foaming agents during manufacturing. The silicone is largely removed in final products and what remains is chemically inert and non-toxic at approved levels.
While silicone itself is not a health concern, chicken nuggets can be high in fat, calories and sodium. Enjoying homemade baked nuggets in moderation is the healthiest option to get the great taste without the excess calories and fat of fast food style chicken nuggets.