Bone Phosphate
The short version
Hydroxyapatite from defatted bone — a calcium and phosphate source, deprecated in most direct food use.
It's permitted and generally considered safe, but there are a few reasons to be mindful — like sensitivities in some people, debated studies, or intake limits. The Safety section below explains the specifics.
Safety profile
JECFA includes bone phosphate in a group maximum tolerable daily intake of 70 mg/kg body weight for phosphorus from all sources, expressed as phosphorus. EFSA's 2019 group ADI of 40 mg/kg body weight per day, also expressed as phosphorus, was set in its re-evaluation of phosphates E 338–341, E 343 and E 450–452, which did not include bone phosphate. The animal-source origin requires BSE-safety controls. Calcium and phosphate are both nutritive at these levels.
Sources
- JECFA database: Bone phosphate / edible bone phosphate (INS 542), 1985 evaluation — WHO / FAO Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives, 1985. JECFA group MTDI 70 mg/kg bw for phosphorus (as P)
- EFSA FAF Panel: 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 (EFSA Journal 2019;17(6):5674, doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2019.5674), PMC full text — European Food Safety Authority, 2019. EFSA's 40 mg/kg bw/day group ADI is expressed as P; scope excludes E 542
- Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives, consolidated text of 18.08.2026 (Annex II Union list) — EUR-Lex, 2026. E 542 is not on the EU Union list (list goes from E 541 to E 551)
Checked against these sources on .
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