E341 – Calcium phosphates

General Information

Calcium phosphates (food additive E341) are inorganic substances, salts of calcium and orthophosphoric acid, used in the food industry to improve product quality.

Calcium phosphates are widespread in nature. In the human body and mammals, most calcium exists in the form of phosphates. Human bones are composed of approximately 70% calcium phosphates, while tooth enamel contains over 90% of these compounds.

Additionally, calcium phosphates are found in:

• cow’s milk — in the form of colloidal calcium phosphate bound to casein micelles;
• grains, legumes, seeds, and nuts — as phytates (phytic acid);
• marine sediments — skeletons of corals, mollusks, and microorganisms;
• bird eggs — in the eggshell structure;
• natural minerals — phosphorites and apatites (the main industrial sources of calcium phosphates);
• plant tissues — as inorganic phosphates involved in metabolic processes.

Industrially, calcium phosphates are obtained from minerals and by chemical synthesis — reacting orthophosphoric acid with calcium oxide or lime milk, followed by hydrolysis of calcium hydroorthophosphate.

The result of the chemical reaction is a white amorphous powder, poorly soluble in water but soluble in acids. Unlike many substances, the solubility of calcium phosphates decreases with increasing temperature.

Several types of calcium orthophosphates are used in the food industry:

• E341(i) – monocalcium phosphate (Ca[H₂PO₄]₂);
• E341(ii) – dicalcium phosphate (CaHPO₄);
• E341(iii) – tricalcium phosphate (Ca₃O₈P₂).

Effects on the Body

Benefits of additive E341

Calcium phosphates are a source of calcium and phosphorus, essential for the formation and maintenance of strong bones and teeth. Additive E341 is used for calcium fortification of foods. Calcium orthophosphates also help regulate the acid-base balance in the body and support normal enzyme activity.

Risks of additive E341

Excessive intake of calcium phosphates may disrupt the calcium-phosphorus balance, leading to phosphate deposits in soft tissues and kidney stone formation. High phosphate levels can also deplete calcium from bone tissue, especially when magnesium and vitamin D levels are insufficient.

Studies indicate that systematic overconsumption of phosphate additives may cause:

• Hyperphosphatemia — elevated phosphate levels in the blood disrupt mineral balance and cause complications;
• Vascular calcification — deposition of calcium in blood vessel walls, reducing their elasticity and increasing atherosclerosis risk;
• Heart diseases — excess phosphates raise the risk of heart attacks and heart failure;
• Increased mortality — high phosphate levels are associated with overall higher mortality rates;
• Calcium-phosphorus metabolism disorders — excessive phosphorus reduces calcium absorption, leading to its depletion from bones;
• Kidney stress — phosphates increase kidney workload, especially dangerous in chronic kidney disease (CKD);
• Arthropathy — deposition of calcium pyrophosphate crystals in joints causes inflammation;
• Osteoporosis — imbalance of phosphorus and calcium weakens bones and raises fracture risk;
• Increased LDL cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol) — excessive phosphates are linked to LDL cholesterol growth;
• Kidney stone formation — calcium-phosphate complexes can deposit in kidneys as stones.

According to the EFSA conclusion, calcium phosphate additives are considered safe when consumed within the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of 40 mg/kg body weight (expressed as phosphorus).

Uses

In the food industry, additive E341 is used as:

• stabilizer and acidity regulator in dairy products;
• leavening agent and calcium source in baked goods;
• anti-caking agent in powdered milk, creamers, and infant formulas;
• emulsifying salt in processed cheese production;
• color fixative in meat products;
• firming agent in canned fruits and vegetables;
• anti-crystallizing agent in condensed milk and ice cream production.

Other applications of calcium orthophosphates include:

• fertilizers and mineral supplements for livestock;
• ingredient in toothpastes and powders;
• in the manufacture of ceramics, glass, and mild abrasives.

Legal Status

Additive E341 is approved for use in the food industry in most countries worldwide. In the European Union, calcium phosphates are listed as approved additives under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, with an ADI of 40 mg/kg body weight (expressed as phosphorus).

In the United States, calcium phosphates have GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) status and are used without content restrictions according to FDA standards.

In Ukraine, additive E341 is also officially permitted in food products following current regulations, with content limitations in specific product categories as per EU recommendations.