Sodium Aluminium Phosphate
The short version
An aluminum-containing leavening acid — controversial due to cumulative aluminum exposure concerns.
An aluminium-containing raising agent. EFSA found its own narrow EU use of no safety concern, but total aluminium intake from all foods may exceed the tolerable weekly intake for many Europeans — which is why we flag aluminium additives.
Safety profile
Tolerable weekly intake (TWI) of 1 mg aluminium/kg body weight, applying to all aluminium compounds in food including additives (EFSA 2008). JECFA set a provisional tolerable weekly intake of 2 mg/kg body weight in 2011. EFSA has noted that total dietary aluminium intake from all sources is likely to exceed the TWI in a significant part of the European population (EFSA 2008). In its 2018 re-evaluation, EFSA concluded that E 541 is of no safety concern in its current authorised uses and use levels, as it is permitted in only a few specific products and exposure is probably near zero; it recommended that combined exposure from all aluminium-containing food additives be assessed.
Sources
- EFSA — Re-evaluation of aluminium sulphates (E 520–523) and sodium aluminium phosphate (E 541) as food additives (2018) — EFSA (EFSA Journal 2018;16(7):5372, PMC copy), 2018. EFSA 2008 TWI of 1 mg Al/kg bw per week; 2018 conclusion of no safety concern at authorised uses
- WHO JECFA database — Aluminium (PTWI, 74th meeting 2011) — WHO / JECFA, 2011. JECFA PTWI of 2 mg/kg bw covering aluminium-containing food additives
- EUR-Lex — Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives, consolidated text 18.08.2026 (Annex II) — EUR-Lex (European Union), 2026. EU use of E 541 restricted to one type of sponge cake since 1 February 2014
- 21 CFR 182.1781 — Sodium aluminum phosphate (GRAS) — US eCFR (Office of the Federal Register), 2026. US status: generally recognized as safe
Checked against these sources on .
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