Foods Containing E542 (Bone Phosphate)
E542 (Bone Phosphate) is a phosphate made from ground animal bones — not vegan and generally treated as haram. Here's where you're most likely to find it on food labels.
Common foods that contain E542
E542 is used across table salt, spice mixes, powdered drinks, grated cheese and dry mixes. The foods where it appears most often include:
- Some supplements and tablets
- Toothpaste
- Historically: dried milk and cosmetics
Exact usage varies by brand and recipe — the only way to know for certain whether a specific product contains E542 is to check its ingredients list, where it must be declared by law, either as "E542" or as "Bone Phosphate".
How to spot E542 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 "anti-caking agents: E542" or "anti-caking agents: bone phosphate". In the US the E-number system isn't used, so look for the full name "Bone Phosphate" instead.
Should you avoid foods containing E542?
E542 is approved for use in the EU, UK and US at regulated levels, but some concerns or conditions apply. For most people, normal dietary exposure to E542 is not considered harmful.
Full guide to E542: 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).