Ammonium phosphates (E342): What It Is and Is It Safe?
Ammonium phosphates (monoammonium and diammonium phosphate) are inorganic phosphate salts used as raising agents, dough conditioners and yeast nutrients. They are not among the phosphate additives authorised in the UK or EU. As phosphate salts they add to total dietary phosphorus, and EFSA's 2019 re-evaluation of the authorised phosphates set a group acceptable daily intake of 40 mg/kg body weight per day as phosphorus after linking high phosphate intake to cardiovascular and kidney effects, noting intake already exceeds this level in some age groups.
- Category
- Acidity Regulator / Raising Agent — Phosphate
- Typically used in
- Baked goods, self-raising flour, bread improvers and yeast-leavened products; yeast nutrient in brewing and fermentation (used outside the EU/UK).
- Regulatory status
- Not authorised as a food additive in the UK or EU; used elsewhere under Codex INS 342.
- Concerns flagged
-
Cardiovascular concernKidney effects
Scrannr flags Ammonium phosphates automatically when you scan a barcode.
Where this comes from
- EFSA (2019) — Re-evaluation of phosphoric acid phosphates di- tri- and polyphosphates E 338-341 E 343 E 450-452 as food additives https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2903/j.efsa.2019.5674
- EFSA (2019) — EFSA issues new advice on phosphates https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/press/news/190612
- UK Food Standards Agency (2024) — Approved additives and E numbers https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/approved-additives-and-e-numbers/approved-additives-and-e-numbers
Products containing Ammonium phosphates
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