Foods Containing E450 (Diphosphates)
E450 (Diphosphates) is phosphate salts used as raising agents and moisture-binders — approved, but part of a phosphate intake EFSA says is too high for some. Here's where you're most likely to find it on food labels.
Common foods that contain E450
E450 is used across cakes, biscuits, self-raising flour, bread and baking mixes. The foods where it appears most often include:
- Baking powder
- Processed cheese
- Frozen fish products
- Processed meats
- Cake mixes
Exact usage varies by brand and recipe — the only way to know for certain whether a specific product contains E450 is to check its ingredients list, where it must be declared by law, either as "E450" or as "Diphosphates".
How to spot E450 on a label
In the UK and EU, additives must appear in the ingredients list with their function and either their E-number or full name — for example "raising agents: E450" or "raising agents: diphosphates". In the US the E-number system isn't used, so look for the full name "Diphosphates" instead.
Should you avoid foods containing E450?
E450 is approved for use in the EU, UK and US at regulated levels, but some concerns or conditions apply. EFSA's 2019 re-evaluation of phosphates found that total phosphate intake exceeds the safe level for some children and teenagers with diets high in processed food. For most people, normal dietary exposure to E450 is not considered harmful.
Full guide to E450: safety, vegan and halal status →
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Additive data sourced from Open Food Facts (ODbL licence) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).