Hints and tips for avoiding
phosphate additives
Choose fresh meat, poultry and fish
where possible
Choose the best quality meat or fish
you can within your budget
If using processed meats serve the
meal with vegetables and fresh rice,
pasta, mashed or boiled potatoes to
reduce additional phosphate
Use dried rice and pasta rather than
buying pre-cooked
Cook with fresh ingredients to reduce
your phosphate additive intake
Food labelling - what to look for to
avoid foods with added phosphate
Manufacturers are not legally required
to state the phosphate content of food
on the label but looking out for some
ingredients will help you to know which
foods contain phosphate additives and
should be limited.
The name of the phosphate additive may
be listed by its full name or E number. Look
for ingredients with “PHOS” in the name.
See list below for a few examples:
E number Phosphate additive
E338
Phosphoric acid
Try making your own sauces rather
than using pre-prepared jars or packets
E339
Sodium phosphates
E340
Potassium phosphates
Cook large quantities of meals from
fresh ingredients to give you a tasty,
additive free meal then freeze the left
overs - also saves time and money too!
E341
Calcium phosphates
E342
Ammonium phosphates
E343
Magnesium phosphates
Make your own mash, roast and
chipped potatoes and use frozen
potato products sparingly
Unsweetened juice drinks contain
less phosphate additives - remember
to limit intake if following a low
potassium diet
Fast food contains phosphate additives
so limit to an occasional treat
E450Diphosphates
E451Triphosphates
E452Polyphosphates
E540
Dicalcium diphosphates
E541
Sodium aluminium phosphates
E1410
Monostarch phosphates
E1413
Phosphated distarch phsophate
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Phosphate
Additives
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Lower Phosphate Alternatives
What is Phosphate?
Phosphate Additives
Phosphate is a mineral that comes from
food and drink. Your kidneys help to
control the levels of phosphate in your
body and it is needed to help keep your
teeth, bones, heart and blood vessels
healthy.
Manufacturers are increasingly adding
phosphate to lots of different foods.
This means you could be eating more
phosphate than you realise.
Phosphate levels can build up in your
blood when your kidneys do not work
properly. Too much phosphate in your
blood can lead to weakening of your
bones and a build up of calcium deposits
in your blood vessels.
Ask your doctor, dietitian or nurse what
your phosphate levels are.
Your dietitian may have talked to you
about foods that are naturally high
in phosphate (such as cheese, milk,
nuts) and how these can be kept to a
minimum.
Your gut absorbs about half of the
phosphate found naturally in food.
Nearly half of your daily phosphate
intake comes from phosphate additives
and almost all of this is absorbed by the
body.
Phosphate additives therefore have more
effect on the levels in your blood than
that from natural sources.
Common reasons for adding phosphate
to food include:
lTo keep food moist
lTo improve the taste and texture of
food
lTo extend the ‘use by date’ of food
Meat
Fresh chicken or turkey
Homemade chicken nuggets
Fresh beef, lamb, pork
Homemade beef burgers
Try making your own meat balls, bolognese, chilli, curry
Foods High in Phosphate Additives Try to Avoid
Processed chicken e.g. chicken nuggets, goujons, kievs
Sausages
Frozen beef burgers
Bacon
Ham
Salami, pepperoni
Tinned meats e.g. spam / corned beef
Fish
Plain white fish - haddock, cod, plaice
Homemade fish cakes
Homemade battered fish
Frozen fish fingers
Frozen fish cakes
Processed battered fish
Cereals
Weetabix, porridge oats, rice krispies
Cheerio’s, Coco Pops,
Pop Tarts, Instant porridge
Cheese
Hard cheese - maximum of 4oz/week
Cream, cottage or ricotta cheese within allowance
Cheese slices or strips
Primula cheese
Cheese triangles
Potatoes & starches
Fresh potatoes, homemade chips and roast potatoes
(parboil first if on potassium restriction)
Pasta / rice / cous cous
Waffles, oven chips, frozen roast potatoes, potato
croquettes, instant mashed potato, potato cakes
Bakery
Homemade cakes and biscuits
Try to avoid recipes using self raising flour and
baking powder
Drinks
Lemonade, Fanta, ginger beer, Lilt, Ribena, Iron Bru,
sparkling water, tea, soda water
Remember to choose sugar free options if you have
diabetes
Milk - within half pint (250ml) allowance
Cake, biscuit and pancake mixes
Breakfast (cereal) bars
Tinned or pre-prepared baked puddings
Scones, Naan bread, Crumpets
Baking powder/Self raising flour
Cola drinks, Dr Pepper, Oasis, hot chocolate, Ovaltine,
Horlicks, powdered milk, beer, coffee, iced tea,
drinking yoghurt, milkshakes, energy drinks
© G16012901W. Design Services, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust,
All Rights Reserved 2016. Document for issue as handout.
Unique Identifier: CS 13 (16). Review date: April 2018.