Acidulant / acidity regulator

Phosphoric acid

Also known as: E338, Phosphoric acid (H3PO4), Orthophosphoric acid, E 338, CAS 7664-38-2, o-Phosphoric acid, Phosphoric acid

Phosphoric acid (E338) is an inorganic acid used in food as an acidulant and acidity regulator; it is the characteristic tart acid of cola soft drinks and also appears in some processed cheeses and other products. It is generally recognized as safe in the US and authorized in the EU as E338.

Is Phosphoric acid safe? Is it banned or restricted? Below is the cited record — every claim linked to the regulator, study, or report that made it.

The charges against Phosphoric acid

1 finding

Exhibit 01

ContextCaution

Intake of cola, but not of other carbonated soft drinks, is associated with low BMD [bone mineral density] in women. Additional research is needed to confirm these findings.

A Framingham Osteoporosis Study analysis (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2006) found cola intake — but not other carbonated soft drinks — associated with lower bone mineral density in women; the authors note colas contain phosphoric acid and caffeine but could not confirm which (if either) is responsible, as diet and decaffeinated colas showed similar results.

Tier 2 · Peer-reviewedGLOBALAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition (Tucker et al., Framingham Osteoporosis Study; via PubMed / U.S. National Library of Medicine)· 2006-10-01

Food Court reports publicly available findings from regulatory bodies, peer-reviewed research, and journalism. We cite every claim. We are not your doctor — we are a search engine for what's known about your food. Follow the links to the original sources.