E452 — Polyphosphates
E452 (Polyphosphates), a emulsifier, is rated "avoid": worth avoiding. Chains of phosphate units used to bind water in processed meats and seafood. They push up a total phosphate intake that EFSA found already exceeds the safe daily limit for many children, and that is linked to kidney strain and vascular calcification.
What is Polyphosphates?
Long chains of phosphate units. Used to bind water in chicken nuggets, hams, sausages, and frozen seafood (which is why some packaged shrimp feels plump and wet).
What does it do to the body?
Same heart-and-kidney concern as the other added phosphates: they absorb far more efficiently than natural food phosphorus, and high intake is linked to kidney strain and hardening of blood vessels. What matters is the total phosphate load across everything you eat in a day, not any single ingredient — which is exactly why children eating a lot of processed food are the group EFSA flagged.
What regulators say
Covered by EFSA's 2019 group acceptable daily intake of 40 mg of phosphorus per kg of body weight per day. EFSA found intake exceeds it for infants, toddlers and children at average consumption, and said the limit does not cover people with moderate to severe reduced kidney function. It stays 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) ↗