Disodium hydrogen phosphate

About

What it is and where it shows up.

Disodium hydrogen phosphate (Na₂HPO₄) is an inorganic sodium salt produced commercially by neutralising phosphoric acid with sodium carbonate or sodium hydroxide, followed by controlled crystallisation. It is used in food as an acidity regulator, emulsifier, texturizer, thickener, and raising agent across processed cheeses, bakery products, pasta, infant formula, and malt-based beverages.

Safety summary

The regulatory and scientific consensus.

EFSA's 2019 re-evaluation found phosphates to be of low acute oral toxicity with no concern for genotoxicity or carcinogenicity, establishing a group ADI of 40 mg phosphorus/kg bw/day for healthy adults. This ADI explicitly does not apply to individuals with moderate-to-severe renal impairment, who risk hyperphosphatemia. Exposure estimates for infants, toddlers, and children frequently exceed the proposed ADI at mean and 95th-percentile levels, warranting particular caution in these populations.

Regulatory landscape

What food-safety regulators have decided.

Jurisdiction	Status	Note
EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union)	Approved	Authorised under Annex II and III to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 and specific purity criteria defined in Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012. Group ADI of 40 mg/kg bw/day expressed as phosphorus applies collectively to phosphate additives E338–341, E343, E450–452, per EFSA FAF Panel 2019 re-evaluation (EFSA J. 2019;17(6):e05674). ADI is not protective for individuals with reduced renal function. Authorised also in food category 13.1 (infant and young children foods).source
FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India)	Approved	Approved as INS 339(ii) (Disodium ortho phosphate). Permitted as a raising agent at GMP levels in flour mixes and malt-based beverages per the FSSAI Processing Aids direction (2024). For infant formula, sodium phosphates INS 339(i, ii, iii) are restricted to a maximum of 45 mg/100 mL as phosphorus, singly or in combination, within sodium and phosphorus limits.source
FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States)	Approved	Listed as GRAS/FS as sequestrant (SEQ) and emulsifier (EMUL) in multiple food standards: enriched farina (21 CFR 137.305), bakery products (136.3), alimentary pastes (139), non-fat dry milk (131.130), cheeses (133), ice cream (135.30), and artificially sweetened jelly (150).source

Who should approach with care

Whose guidance would steer them away.

Kidney Disease — The EFSA FAF Panel (2019) explicitly stated that the group ADI of 40 mg phosphorus/kg bw/day does not apply to individuals with moderate-to-severe reduction in renal function, as impaired phosphorus excretion can lead to clinically significant hyperphosphatemia and associated cardiovascular risk.

Infants — EFSA (2019) found that exposure estimates based on analytical data exceeded the proposed group ADI for infants at the mean level; regulatory limits in infant formula (45 mg/100 mL as phosphorus per FSSAI; 450 mg/L per Codex STAN 72-1981) reflect this heightened sensitivity.

Children — EFSA (2019) noted that exposure estimates for toddlers, children, and adolescents exceed the proposed ADI at the 95th percentile, indicating cumulative phosphate intake from all food sources should be monitored in this population.

Hypertension — Disodium hydrogen phosphate contributes sodium to the diet; individuals managing hypertension or adhering to sodium-restricted diets should account for cumulative sodium intake from foods containing this additive.

Research citations

The sources behind this verdict.

1WHO. JECFA Monograph: Disodium hydrogen phosphate (INS 339ii). apps.who.int
2FDA. FDA Food Additive Status List – Disodium phosphate, 2026. fda.gov
3FSSAI. Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations – Comprehensive Version II, 2024. fssai.gov.in
4EFSA. Re-evaluation of phosphoric acid–phosphates – di-, tri- and polyphosphates (E 338–341, E 343, E 450–452) as food additives and the safety of proposed extension of use, 2019. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
5PubMed. Re-evaluation of phosphoric acid-phosphates – di-, tri- and polyphosphates (E 338-341, E 343, E 450-452) as food additives and the safety of proposed extension of use, 2019. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Independently researched5 citations