Monocalcium phosphate

What this is

Monocalcium phosphate, also called calcium dihydrogen phosphate or E341(i), is one member of the calcium phosphate additive group. U.S. FDA lists calcium phosphate (mono-, di-, and tribasic) as generally recognized as safe when used according to good manufacturing practice, while EU and Canadian rules permit calcium phosphates in specified food categories under stated use conditions, including numeric limits for some uses. Safety reviews treat this ingredient as part of overall phosphate exposure rather than as a uniquely hazardous compound. EFSA set a group acceptable daily intake for phosphates of 40 mg phosphorus/kg body weight/day and JECFA lists a maximum tolerable daily intake of 70 mg phosphorus/kg body weight/day for phosphates. EFSA reported no concern for genotoxicity or carcinogenicity, but found that total phosphate exposure can exceed its safe level in some children and high-intake adolescents, and that the ADI does not apply to people with moderate-to-severe kidney impairment. For most consumers, ordinary food use is a limited concern; the practical issue is cumulative phosphorus from many phosphate additives, especially for people managing kidney disease or high-phosphate diets.

Safety Review

The health areas reviewed when evaluating an ingredient. This does not mean the ingredient is proven to cause harm.

Food-safety reviews do not point to monocalcium phosphate as a genotoxic or cancer-causing additive at permitted uses. The concern is nutritional and exposure-related: it adds inorganic phosphate to the diet, and EFSA found that total phosphate intake can exceed its group safe level in some younger age groups and high-intake adolescents. EFSA also said its acceptable daily intake for phosphates does not apply to people with moderate-to-severe kidney impairment; kidney guidelines specifically advise considering phosphate sources, including additives, when limiting phosphate intake. Evidence of harm for healthy adults at ordinary food-use levels is limited, but people with kidney disease may need to actively limit phosphate additives.

No additional safety information is available for this ingredient yet.