Food & Beverages Precipitated silica has two main uses in the food area. It is used as a flow aid and anticaking agent in a wide variety of powdered foods such as ground spices and chili powders. It also functions as a dispersion aid for such foods as dried milk, puddings and powdered drink mixes to which liquids are added. Precipitated silica is used in dried soup mixes, milk replacement, vitamin supplements, salts, cakes and desserts mixes, dried eggs, etc. As for precipitated calcium carbonate, the small particle sizes and special particle shapes contribute to the development of good tasting calcium fortified foods and beverages.