E452HumectantEmulsifying saltStabiliser
What Is E452? Polyphosphates and Where It Is Used
Also known as: Sodium polyphosphate, Sodium hexametaphosphate
E452 is the shared number of the polyphosphates. They help meat products hold water and keep the structure of cheese and coffee creamers. They are common in sucuk, salami, sausages and cream cheese.
- In the Besin database
- 481 products
- About 4.1 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 E452 do?
In meat products they help proteins bind water, so the product stays juicy and slices well. In processed and cream cheeses and in instant coffee creamers they keep fat and water mixed.
How is it made?
Made by reacting phosphoric acid with sodium, potassium or calcium compounds and linking the result into chains at high temperature.
Vegan and halal: No animal raw material is used; it suits vegan and vegetarian diets.
Which products contain E452?
481 of the 11,663 packaged products in the Besin database list E452 (Polyphosphates) in their ingredients. The categories where it appears most often:
- Sucuk80 products
- Salami54 products
- Smoked Meat46 products
- Sausage34 products
- Instant Coffee30 products
- Cream and Spreadable Cheeses25 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 E452 in sucuk?
Polyphosphates help meat proteins bind water. The product loses less water during processing and does not fall apart when sliced.
Are E452 and E450 in the same group?
Yes. Both are phosphate additives; EFSA set one shared ADI for E338–E341, E343 and E450–E452.
Which products contain E452 most often?
In the Besin database it appears most often in sucuk, salami, smoked meats, sausages, instant coffees and cream cheeses.
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.