Ammonium Polyphosphate (E545): What It Is and Is It Safe?
Ammonium polyphosphate is a chain phosphate salt used as an emulsifier and stabiliser in food and as a flame retardant industrially. Its food use adds to total dietary phosphate intake, governed by the EFSA 2019 group ADI of 40 mg phosphorus per kg body weight per day. EFSA linked high phosphate intake to kidney effects and estimated the ADI may be exceeded in younger age groups, with epidemiological data associating phosphate additives with cardiovascular risk.
- Category
- Emulsifier / Stabiliser — Phosphate
- Typically used in
- Baked goods and processed foods; also used industrially as a flame retardant.
- Regulatory status
- Not authorised as a food additive under EU or UK Regulation 1333/2008. Holds Codex INS 545; contributes to total dietary phosphate intake governed by the EFSA group ADI.
- Concerns flagged
-
Cardiovascular concernKidney effects
Scrannr flags Ammonium Polyphosphate automatically when you scan a barcode.
Where this comes from
- EFSA (2019) — Re-evaluation of phosphoric acid phosphates di tri and polyphosphates E338-341 E343 E450-452 as food additives https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/5674
- Deutsches Arzteblatt International (2012) — Phosphate additives in food a health risk https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3278747/
Products containing Ammonium Polyphosphate
We're building product pages that show real UK products containing Ammonium Polyphosphate, using Open Food Facts data. They'll appear here soon — in the meantime, scan any barcode with the Scrannr app to check for it instantly.
Let Scrannr read the label.
Scan a barcode and get the additives flagged in plain English, plus a clear health score. Free to download.