E339 — Sodium phosphates
E339 (Sodium phosphates), a emulsifier, is rated "avoid": worth avoiding. An emulsifier and stabiliser in processed cheese, meats, and frozen foods. It counts toward a total phosphate load that EFSA found already exceeds the safe daily limit for many children, and that is linked to kidney and cardiovascular harm.
What is Sodium phosphates?
The sodium salts of phosphoric acid. Used to stabilise processed cheese, hot dogs, deli meats, evaporated milk, and instant pudding mixes.
What does it do to the body?
Added phosphates absorb much more efficiently than the phosphate naturally bound in plants and meat, so they raise blood phosphate more than the label amount suggests. High phosphate intake is associated with kidney strain and with vascular calcification, and the risk is concentrated in people with reduced kidney function and in heavy daily eaters of processed food. At typical intake a healthy adult copes; the concern is the load adding up across many processed products a day.
What regulators say
EFSA set a group acceptable daily intake of 40 mg of phosphorus per kg of body weight per day in 2019 and found that intake already exceeds it for infants, toddlers and children at average consumption. EFSA also says the limit does not apply to people with moderate to severe reduced kidney function. It remains permitted in the EU, and the FDA treats it as GRAS.
Risk rating: Avoid
Known or suspected to cause harm: a substance EFSA or another regulator has flagged, or one restricted in some jurisdictions. Best kept out of a regular diet.
Source: EFSA — re-evaluation of phosphoric acid and phosphates, E 338–341, E 343, E 450–452 (2019) ↗