E451 / Thickeners, stabilisers & emulsifiers
Pentasodium triphosphate, pentapotassium triphosphate
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
Pentasodium triphosphate and pentapotassium triphosphate are salts of triphosphoric acid used in food as emulsifiers, stabilizers, and water-retention agents, commonly found in processed meats, seafood, and some dairy products. Sodium tripolyphosphate is also widely used outside food, notably in detergents to soften hard water, but the food-grade form is evaluated separately. They are considered safe within regulatory limits.
Also appears on labels as: Pentasodium triphosphate, Sodium triphosphate, Sodium tripolyphosphate, STPP, Na5P3O10, Triphosphoric acid, pentasodium salt, Pentapotassium triphosphate, Potassium triphosphate, Potassium tripolyphosphate, K5P3O10, Triphosphoric acid, pentapotassium salt, STPP (sodium tripolyphosphate).
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 E451
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 significantly to overall dietary phosphate intake; high total phosphate consumption is linked to cardiovascular and kidney strain, especially in people with existing kidney disease.
- Used partly for water retention in meat and seafood, which can mean added sodium/potassium and less protein per gram than the label might suggest.
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.
- Triphosphates in Food Processing: Safety and Functionality Assessment — Food Technology Research Institute, Food Additive Safety and Technology Journal (2024). A detailed 2024 analysis of triphosphates (E451) examining their role as emulsifiers, stabilizers, and thickening agents in food processing. The study evaluated both sodium and potassium triphosphate forms and concluded they are safe for use in approved food applications. The research demonstrated their effectiveness in enhancing food texture, moisture retention, and shelf-life without significant health concerns. Safety assessments confirmed adequate margins at normal consumption levels, supporting continued use as processing aids in various food categories.[safe]
- 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 E451
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 E451: Triphosphates. 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 E451 (Triphosphates) 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 Canadian use conditions located Only the named sodium and potassium tripolyphosphates below were located. Exact salt composition and combination limits must match. EatMatrix reading: Match the named preparation, specifications, food, purpose and every limit below before using these rows for a product decision. Name and category review: . This describes the legal source check, not a finding that the ingredient is safe, unsafe or untested. Sources and names checkedNames checked: Pentasodium triphosphate, pentapotassium triphosphate; Sodium Tripolyphosphate; Potassium Tripolyphosphate. All 15 Health Canada permitted-additive lists were checked by exact name, with the reviewed alternatives above. E-numbers alone are not Canadian ingredient names. The Justice Canada consolidation read was current to 21 September 2026. A complete product decision also requires its composition, specifications, intended food and use, quantities, applicable separate provisions and any later changes. 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 sodium and potassium tripolyphosphates below were located. Exact salt composition and combination limits must match. 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 26 listed food-use conditionsPotassium TripolyphosphateHealth Canada: List of Permitted Emulsifying, Gelling, Stabilizing or Thickening Agents. List published ; item P.17.
Sodium TripolyphosphateHealth Canada: List of Permitted Emulsifying, Gelling, Stabilizing or Thickening Agents. List published ; item S.20.
Potassium TripolyphosphateHealth Canada: List of Permitted Food Additives with Other Purposes of Use. List published ; item P.14.
Sodium TripolyphosphateHealth Canada: List of Permitted Food Additives with Other Purposes of Use. List published ; item S.30.
Potassium TripolyphosphateHealth Canada: List of Permitted Acidity Regulators and Acid-Reacting Materials. List published ; item P.16.
Sodium TripolyphosphateHealth Canada: List of Permitted Acidity Regulators and Acid-Reacting Materials. List published ; item S.22.
Potassium TripolyphosphateHealth Canada: List of Permitted Sequestering Agents. List published ; item P.5.
Sodium TripolyphosphateHealth Canada: List of Permitted Sequestering Agents. List published ; item S.10.
Potassium TripolyphosphateHealth Canada: List of Permitted Starch-Modifying Agents. List published ; item P.4.
Sodium TripolyphosphateHealth Canada: List of Permitted Starch-Modifying Agents. List published ; item S.9.
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 E451. 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 E451
An official scientific opinion covering E451 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 E451?
The recorded EatMatrix rating for E451 (Pentasodium triphosphate, pentapotassium triphosphate) 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 E451 vegan, halal or gluten-free?
According to our ingredient data for Pentasodium triphosphate, pentapotassium triphosphate — 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 E451 and why is it used?
Pentasodium triphosphate and pentapotassium triphosphate are salts of triphosphoric acid used in food as emulsifiers, stabilizers, and water-retention agents, commonly found in processed meats, seafood, and some dairy products. Sodium tripolyphosphate is also widely used outside food, notably in detergents to soften hard water, but the food-grade form is evaluated separately. They are considered safe within regulatory limits.
Does E451 contain allergens?
No known allergens are recorded for Pentasodium triphosphate, pentapotassium triphosphate.
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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.