E339 / Antioxidants & acidity regulators
Sodium phosphates
Safety in brief
Safe
Recorded EatMatrix rating, not a new clinical review. The amount, your sensitivities and country rules still matter.
- Watch for
- No allergen or sensitivity is recorded for this ingredient here. Check the whole product label; this is not an allergen-free guarantee.
- Our advice
- Read the whole food label and consider how often you eat the product. A name or E number does not tell you the amount, and an ingredient rating cannot assess the entire food.
What it is
Sodium phosphates are sodium salts of phosphoric acid used in food as emulsifiers, stabilizers, and pH regulators (buffers). They are common in processed cheese, baked goods, and cured meats, where they help maintain texture and consistency. They also have non-food uses such as in detergents and water treatment, but the food-grade forms are regulated separately and considered safe at typical use levels.
Also appears on labels as: Sodium phosphates, Sodium phosphate salts, Sodium dihydrogen phosphate, Disodium phosphate, Trisodium phosphate, Monosodium phosphate, Food grade sodium phosphates, INS 339, E339, E 339, E-339, E339(i).
Dietary information
- Vegan
- Yes
- Halal
- Yes
- Gluten-free
- Yes
- Allergens
- None recorded
Recorded ingredient information. Check the product label or certification: sources, other ingredients and cross-contact can vary.
Research & body effects
Selected research on E339
How to read study types- Regulator reviewEFSA re-evaluation of phosphoric acid and phosphates
Set a group safe daily limit of 40 mg phosphorus per kg of body weight. Children’s intake from the whole diet can go over it, and so can intake from food supplements.
Summaries of each source's published abstract or statement, checked . This is a selection of sources, not a complete literature review. Authority assessments apply to the uses and places they cover.
Health notes from our ingredient record
- Contributes to overall dietary phosphate intake; high total phosphate consumption (from all sources) has been linked to cardiovascular and kidney strain, particularly in people with existing kidney disease.
- Frequent consumption of highly processed foods containing added phosphates may make it harder to track total phosphorus intake, which matters for people on phosphate-restricted diets.
Other references from our ingredient record
These links come from the original ingredient record. They are separate from the source reviews above and have not all been checked for the exact ingredient, amount consumed or claim. Dates are shown newest first.
- Phosphate-based Additives in Processed Foods: Health Implications of Sodium Phosphates — Katherine L Tucker et al., American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2025). A comprehensive 2025 study examining phosphate-based additives including sodium phosphate (E339) in the US food supply and their health implications. The research found that phosphate additives like E339 have more rapid and efficient absorption than naturally occurring dietary phosphate, contributing significantly to total phosphorus intake. While generally recognized as safe, the study raises concerns about excessive exposure through processed foods, particularly for individuals with chronic kidney disease. The research emphasizes the need for better labeling and monitoring of phosphate additive consumption.[safe_in_moderation]
- Re‐evaluation of phosphoric acid–phosphates – di‐, tri‐ and polyphosphates (E 338–341, E 343, E 450–452) as food additives and the safety of proposed extension of use — EFSA Panel on Food Additives, EFSA Journal (2019). Official EFSA scientific opinion (bibliographic reference, imported 2026-10-13). It covers the additive as a group assessment and is not an individual human study; read the opinion for its findings.
Country rules
Country checks for E339
Permission depends on the market, type of food, amount and conditions. A scientific opinion or an E-number alone does not establish a legal use. These checks are separate from the stored EatMatrix rating.
Compare all eight markets and their sources
| Market | What is checked |
|---|---|
| European Union | Regulation (EC) 1333/2008, Annex II Part B, version , contains the exact code E339: Sodium phosphates. Listing alone does not allow every food use. Part E food categories, limits, specifications and applicable later acts still need a product-specific check. Source read: . |
| Great Britain | The FSA register record for E339 (Sodium phosphates) lists “Authorised” in England, Scotland and Wales. Register updated: 01 April 2025; record checked: . Food-specific conditions and specifications still need a separate legal check. |
| United States | Complete current-use review pending. Any scoped provision in the label guide above applies only to the stated use. FDA explains the applicable food-additive and GRAS framework. |
| Northern Ireland | Review pending. Check the applicable EU rules and territory arrangements; the GB register alone does not establish this status. FSA guidance is a starting source, not a verified permission for this entry. |
| Canada | Named food-use records located. Health Canada lists the preparations below for specified foods and purposes. This is conditional permission for those uses, not approval of every product or a personal safety verdict. Only the named records and conditions below were located. Exact composition and specifications still need matching. Source tables captured . List publication dates are shown separately. Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) is a condition of use, not an unlimited amount or a recommended intake. Food and Drug Regulations B.16.003 requires the listed source, purpose, amount and other conditions to match. The official consolidation read was current to 21 September 2026; product specifications and applicable later changes still need checking. Read 44 listed food-use conditionsSodium Phosphate, DibasicHealth Canada: List of Permitted Emulsifying, Gelling, Stabilizing or Thickening Agents. List published ; item S.9.
Sodium Phosphate, MonobasicHealth Canada: List of Permitted Emulsifying, Gelling, Stabilizing or Thickening Agents. List published ; item S.10.
Sodium Phosphate, TribasicHealth Canada: List of Permitted Emulsifying, Gelling, Stabilizing or Thickening Agents. List published ; item S.11.
Sodium Phosphate, DibasicHealth Canada: List of Permitted Food Additives with Other Purposes of Use. List published ; item S.17.
Sodium Phosphate, TribasicHealth Canada: List of Permitted Food Additives with Other Purposes of Use. List published ; item S.18.
Sodium Phosphate, DibasicHealth Canada: List of Permitted Acidity Regulators and Acid-Reacting Materials. List published ; item S.15.
Sodium Phosphate, MonobasicHealth Canada: List of Permitted Acidity Regulators and Acid-Reacting Materials. List published ; item S.16.
Sodium Phosphate, TribasicHealth Canada: List of Permitted Acidity Regulators and Acid-Reacting Materials. List published ; item S.17.
Sodium Phosphate, DibasicHealth Canada: List of Permitted Sequestering Agents. List published ; item S.4.
Sodium Phosphate, MonobasicHealth Canada: List of Permitted Sequestering Agents. List published ; item S.5.
EatMatrix reading: match the exact preparation and food first. A manufacturing limit is not an acceptable daily intake (ADI). A label without the amount cannot establish exposure, and an unlisted name here does not establish a ban. |
| Australia | Review pending. Food Standards Code permissions and conditions need an additive-specific check. FSANZ food-additive rules is a starting source, not a verified permission for this entry. |
| New Zealand | Review pending. Food Standards Code permissions and conditions need an additive-specific check. FSANZ food-additive rules is a starting source, not a verified permission for this entry. |
| Japan | Review pending. The relevant list, identity and use standards need an additive-specific check. CAA food-additive lists is a starting source, not a verified permission for this entry. |
Sources & review status
Check what each source covers: an authority’s conclusion, a research finding and a country’s legal permission answer different questions.
What this guide covers
- Selected research
- 1 source summaries, with publication dates and study types. Several publications may describe the same study population.
- Official assessment reference
- EFSA opinion located for E339. Identity and code coverage checked; full findings review pending.
- Original ingredient record
- 2 research links; newest recorded date: . Sources added separately to this guide are not included in this count.
This guide brings together our ingredient record and the dated sources shown here. Missing information describes a gap in this guide; it does not mean an ingredient is untested, safe or harmful. This is not a complete review of every study, preparation or current country rule. The amount in a product and how it is used still matter.
How to read the ratings, research and country checksAgency labels recorded by EatMatrix
These are imported database classifications, not verified current statements from each authority. Use the dated official sources below for their actual scope and conclusions.
| Authority | Database label |
|---|---|
| FDA | Safe |
| WHO | Safe |
| EFSA | Safe |
| FSANZ | Safe |
| Japan | Safe |
| UK FSA | Safe |
| Health Canada | Safe |
An official EFSA assessment for E339
An official scientific opinion covering E339 exists. A missing research link or rating in our database does not mean this additive has never been assessed. This reference identifies the document; it does not replace a review of its findings, later research or current food-use rules.
EFSA: Re-evaluation of phosphoric acid–phosphates – di-, tri- and polyphosphates (E338–341, E343, E450–452) as food additives and the safety of proposed extension of use
- Published
- Codes covered by this reference
- E338, E339, E340, E341, E341(I), E341(II), E341(III), E343, E450, E450(I), E451, E451(I), E452, E452(I)
- Source type
- EFSA scientific opinion, not an individual human trial
The publisher records that an earlier version adopted on March 27, 2019 was withdrawn before publication. The linked published version was adopted on June 4, 2019. This is a group opinion covering multiple phosphate forms and a proposed extension of use, not a new E341-only clinical trial or permission for every formulation. Later publications and current use conditions still need separate review.
EatMatrix checked this reference’s identity and code coverage on . The full evidence review, an exhaustive check for subsequent publications and corrections, and market-specific permissions remain pending. This does not change the recorded EatMatrix rating above.
Database updated: . What does an E number mean on a food label?
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
What is EatMatrix's recorded rating for E339?
The recorded EatMatrix rating for E339 (Sodium phosphates) is “Safe”. It is calculated from labels stored in our ingredient database. These labels are not verified current regulator decisions or country permissions. A database update date is not a scientific review date.
Is E339 vegan, halal or gluten-free?
According to our ingredient data for Sodium phosphates — vegan: yes, vegetarian: yes, halal: yes, kosher: yes, gluten-free: yes, dairy-free: yes. Manufacturing sources can vary between products; check the label if it matters to you.
What is E339 and why is it used?
Sodium phosphates are sodium salts of phosphoric acid used in food as emulsifiers, stabilizers, and pH regulators (buffers). They are common in processed cheese, baked goods, and cured meats, where they help maintain texture and consistency. They also have non-food uses such as in detergents and water treatment, but the food-grade forms are regulated separately and considered safe at typical use levels.
Does E339 contain allergens?
No known allergens are recorded for Sodium phosphates.
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This page shows information and classifications recorded in our ingredient database. Current scientific and market-specific verification remains pending as described above. It is general information, not medical advice.