Dipotassium phosphate
Dipotassium phosphate is the dibasic potassium salt of phosphoric acid and appears on labels as dipotassium phosphate, potassium phosphate dibasic, potassium phosphate, or within the E340/INS 340 potassium phosphates family. Regulators usually evaluate it with other inorganic phosphates because the body ultimately handles them as phosphate. FDA lists dipotassium phosphate as GRAS when used according to good manufacturing practice; Codex and European/UK rules allow potassium phosphates in specified uses, often with category limits expressed as phosphorus. EFSA’s 2019 review found no concern for genotoxicity or carcinogenicity, but set a group ADI of 40 mg/kg body weight per day as phosphorus and noted that total dietary phosphate exposure may exceed that value for some infants, toddlers, children, and high-consuming adolescents. The concern is cumulative phosphate load, not a unique poison-like effect of this salt. People with moderate to severe kidney impairment are a special case because reduced kidney function makes it harder to clear phosphate; high blood phosphate can contribute to mineral-bone imbalance and calcification. Ordinary permitted food uses are therefore a moderate, exposure-related concern rather than a broad warning for healthy adults.
- Concern
- Moderate
- Function
- Other
- Updated
- May 25, 2026
What this is
Dipotassium phosphate is the dibasic potassium salt of phosphoric acid and appears on labels as dipotassium phosphate, potassium phosphate dibasic, potassium phosphate, or within the E340/INS 340 potassium phosphates family. Regulators usually evaluate it with other inorganic phosphates because the body ultimately handles them as phosphate. FDA lists dipotassium phosphate as GRAS when used according to good manufacturing practice; Codex and European/UK rules allow potassium phosphates in specified uses, often with category limits expressed as phosphorus. EFSA’s 2019 review found no concern for genotoxicity or carcinogenicity, but set a group ADI of 40 mg/kg body weight per day as phosphorus and noted that total dietary phosphate exposure may exceed that value for some infants, toddlers, children, and high-consuming adolescents. The concern is cumulative phosphate load, not a unique poison-like effect of this salt. People with moderate to severe kidney impairment are a special case because reduced kidney function makes it harder to clear phosphate; high blood phosphate can contribute to mineral-bone imbalance and calcification. Ordinary permitted food uses are therefore a moderate, exposure-related concern rather than a broad warning for healthy adults.
Safety Review
The critical endpoints experts review in safety assessments. This is not a prediction of harm.
Regulators treat dipotassium phosphate as part of the broader inorganic phosphate group because it dissociates into potassium and phosphate in the body. EFSA found low acute toxicity and no genotoxicity or carcinogenicity concern, but identified kidney calcification and kidney-tubule changes as high-dose animal findings and set a group intake value for phosphorus from phosphate additives. Human evidence linking normal dietary phosphate additives to cardiovascular or bone harm is not definitive, but reduced kidney function is a clear vulnerability because phosphate clearance is impaired. The practical concern is additive plus dietary phosphorus adding up, not proven harm from occasional labeled use.
No safety review endpoints are listed for this ingredient yet.
Restaurant Usage
2 linked ingredient reports
State Policies
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Federal Policies
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Sources
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Source population is still pending for this dossier. The page stays visible because the restaurant and policy context is still useful.