Original article date: April 18, 2014
Updated by Jamie Marchetti Nov. 5, 2021
Tricalcium phosphate is an ingredient that is heavily used across many industries – toothpaste, antacids, bone grafting material, baby powder, water filtration, nutritional supplements and ceramic coatings – and it is also in our food supply. Tricalcium phosphate is a mineral found in many foods for many purposes.
Within foods, tricalcium phosphate has roles such as anti-caking, clouding, and fortification. These all support the formulation of more desirable food products in terms of texture, appearance, performance, shelf-life, and nutrition. Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS), tricalcium phosphate is an ingredient that helps foods, food products and food ingredients live up to consumer expectations time and time again, even after sitting in the pantry or refrigerator after purchase.
Tricalcium phosphate has several properties that make it useful in food formulation. These include the following:
- Tricalcium phosphate is almost insoluble in water, has a very low flavor profile, and usually comes in a fine white powder.
- The chalky texture of tri-calcium phosphate makes it useful as a free-flowing agent, as it has the ability to take up to 10% of its weight in moisture.
- Its texture and color properties also make it an effective clouding agent.
- Ingredient labels list it as tribasic calcium phosphate, tri-calcium orthophosphate, and precipitated calcium phosphate, or it’s labeled in formulation paperwork as TCP. Tricalcium phosphate is also known as hydroxyapatite.
Tricalcium phosphate can also be used to meet the nutrition and dietary considerations of consumers
- Chemically, tricalcium phosphate is a calcium salt of phosphoric acid. Its primary function in fortification is to increase the calcium content of foods.
- Due to its mineral source, tricalcium phosphate can be used in vegan foods and is also allowed in organic products in the U.S.
For those who may need to check the additive status for their country, tricalcium phosphate has E-number E341(iii), a subclass of calcium phosphates. It has a CAS Number of 7758-87-4.
Examples of how tricalcium phosphate functions in food manufacturing
- Acidity regulator
- Adds smoothness and opacity to reduced fat foods and beverages, such as soymilk
- Anticaking agent
- Buffer
- Calcium and phosphorus mineral fortification – seen in some juices, soy beverages, yogurts, and cereal products
- Clouding Agent
- Emulsifier
- Firming agent – interacts with gelling agents to strengthen a food structure
- Flour Treatment Agent
- Humectant in some table salts, sugar, or baking powder
- Stabilizer in some fats for frying
- Leavening agent in some baked goods and breadings
- Mineral salt in cheese products
- Thickener
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Neutralizing value of tricalcium phosphate
was wondering how suitable it is as an anti caking agent for powder drinks?
What is a safe formula for adding tricalcium phosphate to seasonings, flour or cornmeal as an anticaking agent.
What is a safe amount of tricalcium phosphate to use in 50 lbs. of spice rub.
Did you find the answer this. Wanting to know as well.
Isn’t Tricalcium phosphate used as a cleaner for walls before applying paint? Isn’t it marked poisonous if swallowed???
What is the amount of tricalcium phosphate required for a chocolate premix drink for it not to be caking?
The wall cleaner is Tri-SODIUM-Phosphate (TSP), not TCP.
hi did you get the answer to the above question as I would really like to know
thanks
su
Can I use salt with tricalcium phosphate in my netty pot (up my nose) to wash out my sinus will it have negative effects on my health
Hi James,
That question would be best directed to your healthcare provider. We cannot offer or endorse medical advice here.
Thanks!
Angie
Knowledge Center Content Manager
Hi!
What amount of tricalcium phosphate should be used in coffee?
How much to add calcium phosphate tribasic to homemade pepper to keep from setting up
Cual es la medida de uso de tricalciun en spices
Cual es la medida de uso de tricalciun en spices por 50 lbs
How much tricalcium phosphate would I use in
220 lbs of spices