E341; Calcium Phosphates

(in 333 products)

1. Acidity Regulator / Buffering Agent - Changes or maintains the acidity or basicity of food/cosmetics.

2. Anti-caking Agent - Prevents lumps from forming in food due to excess water. They usually function as a water repellent or by absorbing excess moisture.

3. Binder / Stabilizer - Retains the physical characteristics of food/cosmetics and ensure the mixture remains in an even state.

4. Emulsifier - Allows water and oils to remain mixed together to form an emulsion.

5. Humectant - Binds with water to increase skin hydration. Also enhances water absorption of the skin

6. Insecticide / Pesticide - Kills or inhibits unwanted organisms

Calcium phosphate is a family of materials and minerals containing calcium ions (Ca2+) together with inorganic phosphate anions. The materials using as food additives include monocalcium phosphate (E341), dicalcium phosphate (E341(ii)), tricalcium phosphate (e341(iii)). [1]

Monocalcium phosphate is used in the food industry as a leavening agent, i.e., to cause baked goods to rise. Because it is acidic, when combined with an alkali ingredient, commonly sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) or potassium bicarbonate, it reacts to produce carbon dioxide and a salt. When combined in a ready-made baking powder, the acid and alkali ingredients are included in the right proportions such that they will exactly neutralize each other and not significantly affect the overall pH of the product. [1]

Dicalcium phosphate is mainly used as a dietary supplement in prepared breakfast cereals, dog treats, enriched flour, and noodle products. It is also used as a tableting agent in some pharmaceutical preparations, including some products meant to eliminate body odor. Dicalcium phosphate is also found in some dietary calcium supplements (e.g. Bonexcin). It is used in poultry feed. It is also used in some toothpastes as a tartar control agent. [1]

Tricalcium phosphate is used in powdered spices as an anticaking agent, e.g. to prevent table salt from caking. It is also found in baby powder and toothpaste. It is also used as a nutritional supplement. [1]

They are approved to use as food additives in EU and generally recognized as safe food substances in US.

1. PubChem: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/24456

1. US FDA Food Additives Status List [2018]

- Calcium phosphate (mono-, di, or tribasic)

2. EU Approved Food Additive [2018]

- E341

3. US FDA Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) Food Substances (21 CFR 184) [2017]

- §182.8217