Common phosphate additives used by food industry
| Phosphate Salt | Purpose | Found in |
|---|---|---|
| Dicalcium phosphate | Calcium and phosphorus supplementation, dough conditioner | Bakery mixes, yeast-raised bakery products, cereals, dry powder beverages, flour, food bars, infant food, milk-based beverages, multivitamin tablets, yogurt |
| Disodium phosphate | Sequestrant, emulsifier, buffering agent, absorbent, pH control agent, protein modifier, source of alkalinity, stabilizer | Breakfast cereal, cheese, condensed milk, cream, evaporated milk, flavored milk powders, gelatin, half and half, ice cream, imitation cheese, infant food, instant cheesecake, instant pudding, isotonic drinks, nonfat dry milk, pasta, pet food, processed cheese, starch, vitamin capsules, whipped topping |
| Monosodium phosphate | Acidulant, buffering agent, emulsifier, leavening agent, protein modifier and sequestrant, gelling aid | Cola beverages, dry powder beverages, egg yolks, gelatin, instant cheesecake, instant pudding, isotonic beverages, and process cheese custard pudding and no-bake cheesecake mixes |
| Phosphoric acid | Acidulant, pH control agent, buffering agent, flavor enhancer, flavoring agent, sequestrant, stabilizer, thickener, synergist | Cola beverages, carbonated and noncarbonated beverages |
| Sodium hexameta-phosphate | Sequestrant, curing agent, dough strengthener, emulsifier, firming agent, flavor enhancer, flavoring agent, humectant, nutrient supplement, processing aid, stabilizer, thickener, surface-active agent, synergist, texturizer, buffering agent. | Meat, seafood, poultry, vegetables, cream, half and half, ice cream, whey, processed cheese, eggs, table syrup, toppings |
| Sodium tripolyphosphate | Sequestrant, pH control agent, emulsifier, providing alkalinity, buffering agent, coagulant, dispersing agent, protein modifier, antioxidant, curing agent, flavor enhancer, humectant, thickener, stabilizer, texturizer | Meat products, seafood, poultry, vegetable proteins, processed cheese, sour cream, dips, yogurt, eggs, table syrups, whipped toppings, pet food, vegetables, whey |
| Tetrasodium pyrophosphate | Buffering agent, pH control agent, alkalinity source, dispersing agent, protein modifier, coagulant, sequestrant, emulsification, color stabilizer | Processed meat, poultry, seafood, processed cheese, potato products, ice cream, frozen desserts |
| Trisodium phosphate | Buffer, emulsifying agent, stabilizer, protein modifier, pH control, color stabilizer | Processed cheese, cheese products, imitation cheese, isotonic beverages, cooked breakfast cereals |
Source: ICL Performance Products LP, St. Louis, MO 63141; http://www.perfperformancelp.com.