IFAC Summary of Phosphate Citations
The International Food Additives Council (IFAC) is a global association representing manufacturers of food ingredients, including phosphates used as food additives. IFAC strives for the harmonization of food additive standards and specifications worldwide, and supports regulatory processes to identify, categorize and document the safety of food additives.
Phosphorus is an essential element critical for several key biochemical processes in the body, including development of cell membranes, growth of bones and teeth, maintenance of acid-base balance, and cellular energetics. Phosphorus is naturally occurring in various types of foods, including meat, grains, and dairy. Additionally, inorganic phosphates can be added to foods to improve texture, flavor, shelf life, and other technological functions. Inorganic phosphates are salts or esters of phosphoric acid.
Phosphoric acid is produced starting with naturally-occurring phosphate ore mined around the world. As phosphoric acid, it can be combined with other elements such as calcium, potassium, and sodium into "salts." Phosphate additives are contained in a large number of processed foods and beverages and help contribute to the vast food supply while also minimizing food waste.
Following is a comprehensive list of phosphates that are approved for use in food. All of these phosphates have either been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a direct food additive or reviewed by FDA and determined to be generally recognized as safe (GRAS). Also included are the CAS numbers, International Numbering System (INS) numbers, Food Chemicals Codex (FCC) references and Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) evaluations, as available.
This list demonstrates the transparent nature in which phosphate additives are reviewed for safety and approved for use in food.
IFAC List of Phosphate Citations
CAS GRN INS FCC JECFA Phosphate Abbr. CFR Citation Other Number Number Number Reference Evaluation Calcium Acid
CAPP 14866-19-4 GRN 420 450(vii) X 2001 Pyrophosphate 7790-76-3
Calcium Pyrophosphate CPP 21 CFR 182.8223 450(vi) X 1982 35405-51-7 Calcium
CaHMP 21 CFR 182.6203 452(iv) 1982 Hexametaphosphate Diammonium Phosphate
or Ammonium Phosphate, DAP 7783-28-0 21 CFR 184.1141b 342 (ii) X 1982
Dibasic
Dicalcium Phosphate or 7757-93-9 21 CFR 182.1217 Calcium Phosphate, DCP 341(ii) X 1982 7789-77-7 Dibasic 21 CFR 182.8217 Dimagnesium Phosphate 7782-75-4 or Magnesium Phosphate, DMP 21 CFR 184.1434 343 (ii) X 1982 7757-86-0 Dibasic
Dipotassium Phosphate DKP 7758--11--4 21 CFR 182.6285 340 (ii) X 1982
21 CFR 182.1778 Disodium Phosphate or
7558-79-4 21 CFR 182.6290 Sodium Phosphate, DSP 339 (ii) X 1982
10028-24-7 21 CFR 182.6778 Dibasic
21 CFR 182.8778 Ferrous Ammonium Listed in the Food Chemicals
FAP 10101-60-7 GRN 271 X 2009 th Phosphate Codex, 10 edition, page 520 Insoluble Metaphosphate
IMP 50813-16-6 21 CFR 182.6769 X 1982 or Sodium Metaphosphate Monoammonium
Phosphate or Ammonium MAP 7722-76-1 21 CFR 184.1141(a) 342 (i) X 1983
Phosphate, Monobasic
Monocalcium Phosphate 21 CFR 182.1217 7758-23-8 or Calcium Phosphate, MCP 21 CFR 182.6215 341 (i) X 1982 10031-30-8
Monobasic 21 CFR 182.8217 No objection letter issued by Monopotassium FDA Division of Biotechnology MKP 7778-77-0 340(i) X 1982 Phosphate and GRAS Notice Review - October 13, 2003
CAS GRN INS FCC JECFA Phosphate Abbr. CFR Citation Other Number Number Number Reference Evaluation
Monosodium Phosphate 21 CFR 182.1778
or Sodium Phosphate, MSP 7558-80-7 21 CFR 182.6778 339(i) X 1982
Monobasic 21 CFR 182.8778
Phosphoric Acid PA 7664-38-2 21 CFR 182.1073 338 X 1982
Potassium Select Committee on GRAS Hexametaphosphate or Substances (SCOGS) Report # KHMP 7790-53-6 452(ii) X 1982 Potassium PB-262 651 Polymetaphosphate No objection letter issued by Potasium FDA Division of Biotechnology KTPP 13845-36-8 451(ii) X 1982 Tripolyphosphate and GRAS Notice Review - October 13, 2003 10279-59-1 Sodium Aluminum
SALP 15136-87-5 21 CFR 182.1781 541(i) X 1988 Phosphate, Acidic 10305-76-7 Sodium Aluminum
SALP 7785-88-8 21 CFR 182.1781 541 (ii) X 1988 Phosphate, Basic
Sodium Acid SAPP 7758-16-9 21 CFR 182.1087 450 (i) X 1982 Pyrophosphate
21 CFR 182.6085 10124-56-8 Sodium 50813-16-6
Hexametaphosphate or SHMP 21 CFR 182.6760 452 (i) X 1982 10361-03-2 Sodium Polyphosphate 68915-31-1 Sodium Potassium
SKMP 67183-30-6 GRN 316 X Hexametaphosphate
21 CFR 182.1810 Sodium Tripolyphosphate STPP 7758-29-4 451 (i) X 1982
21 CFR 182.6810
Sodium Trimetaphosphate STMP 7785-84-4 21 CFR 182.6769 X
No objection letter issued by Tetrapotassium FDA Division of Biotechnology Pyrophosphate or TKPP 7320-34-5 450 (v) X 1982 and GRAS Notice Review - Potassium Pyrophosphate October 13, 2003
Tetrasodium TSPP 7722-88-5 21 CFR 182.6787 450 (iii) X 1982 Pyrophosphate
21 CFR 182.6789
CAS GRN INS FCC JECFA Phosphate Abbr. CFR Citation Other Number Number Number Reference Evaluation Tricalcium Phosphate or 7758-87- 21 CFR 182.1217 Calcium Phosphate, TCP 341 (iii) X 1982 41306-06-5 Tribasic 21 CFR 182.8217 No objection letter issued by FDA Division of Biotechnology Tripotassium Phosphate TKP 7778-53-2 340 (iii) X 1982 and GRAS Notice Review - October 13, 2003
Trisodium Phosphate or 21 CFR 182.1778 7601-54-9
Sodium Phosphate, TSP 21 CFR 182.6778 339 (iii) X 1982 10101-89-0
Tribasic 21 CFR 182.8778 Listed in the Food Chemicals Trisodium Pyrophosphate 14691-80-6 th 3SP GRN 300 450(ii) X 2001 and Monohydrate 26573-04-6 Codex, 10 edition, page 1317 Trimagnesium Phosphate
or Magnesium Phosphate TMP 7757-87-1 21 CFR 184.1434 343(iii) X 1982 Tribasic
Ferric Ortho-Phosphate 10045-86-0 21 CFR 184.1301 453 X
Ferric Pyrophosphate 10058-44-3 21 CFR 184.1304 454 X