E451: Triphosphates

What is E451?

Triphosphates are salts of triphosphoric acid, in which three phosphate units are linked in a chain. E451 includes pentasodium triphosphate and pentapotassium triphosphate, white, water-soluble powders.

Origin and production

They are produced industrially from purified phosphoric acid, which comes from mined phosphate rock, by neutralising it with sodium or potassium compounds and heating the mixture so the phosphate units join together.

Why is it used?

In processed meat, triphosphates help proteins hold water, keeping cooked ham, sausages and sliced chicken breast juicy. They also bind metal ions and improve the texture of instant noodles.

Vegan, vegetarian and halal

Triphosphates are mineral-derived and synthetic, so they are suitable for vegans and vegetarians in themselves. They are mostly found in meat products, however, so suitability depends on the food they are used in.

Safety and regulation

Triphosphates are authorised in the EU and were included in EFSA's re-evaluation of phosphate additives, which set a group acceptable daily intake for phosphorus from all phosphates. EFSA identified a risk of exceeding that acceptable daily intake for some population groups, partly because phosphates are also naturally present in many foods.

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