E450Raising agentEmulsifying saltStabiliser
What Is E450? Diphosphates and Where It Is Used
Also known as: Disodium diphosphate, Sodium acid pyrophosphate
E450 is the shared number of the diphosphates. They are used with sodium bicarbonate as a raising agent in baking powder, and in processed cheese and meat products to keep their structure.
- In the Besin database
- 799 products
- About 6.9 in every 100 products
- Source
- Mineral
- Acceptable daily intake (ADI)
- 40 mg/kg body weight per day (as phosphorus, shared by all phosphate additives and natural phosphorus in food)
What does E450 do?
In baking powder they react with sodium bicarbonate to release carbon dioxide and raise the dough. In processed cheese they keep proteins mixed with fat and water, and in meat products they help hold water.
How is it made?
Made by reacting phosphoric acid with sodium, potassium or calcium compounds and heating the result.
Vegan and halal: No animal raw material is used; it suits vegan and vegetarian diets.
Which products contain E450?
799 of the 11,663 packaged products in the Besin database list E450 (Diphosphates) in their ingredients. The categories where it appears most often:
- Coated and Stick Biscuits86 products
- Cream and Sandwich Biscuits82 products
- Mini Cakes76 products
- Wafers31 products
- Cake and Pastry Mixes25 products
- Plain Biscuits24 products
Numbers as of the database snapshot of October 18, 2026.
Official evaluation
In 2019 EFSA re-evaluated phosphoric acid and phosphates (E338–E341, E343, E450–E452) together and set, for the first time, a group ADI expressed as phosphorus. It covers phosphorus that occurs naturally in food as well as phosphorus added as additives. EFSA noted that infants and children may exceed this value at average intake and that the ADI does not apply to people with moderate to severe reduction in kidney function.
Food additives are regulated by the EU food additives regulation (Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008) and, in Türkiye, the Turkish Food Codex Regulation on Food Additives (Official Gazette, 30.06.2013, No. 28693). The ADI is the amount estimated to be safe to take every day over a lifetime, given per kilogram of body weight.
Frequently asked questions
Why is there E450 in baking powder?
Baking powder needs a base (sodium bicarbonate, E500) and an acidic salt to work. Diphosphates are that acidic salt and release the gas gradually as the dough heats up.
Is E450 a phosphate?
Yes. E450 diphosphates belong to the phosphate additives; EFSA set one ADI, expressed as phosphorus, for the whole group.
Which products contain E450 most often?
In the Besin database it appears most often in coated and cream biscuits, mini cakes, wafers and cake mixes.
Related additives
Sources
- EFSA (2019): Re-evaluation of phosphoric acid and phosphates
- EFSA news (2019): New advice on phosphates
- the EU food additives regulation (Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008) and, in Türkiye, the Turkish Food Codex Regulation on Food Additives (Official Gazette, 30.06.2013, No. 28693)
Last reviewed: . This page is for information only and is not medical advice. To report a mistake, write to iletisim@besin.app.