What is E450(iii)?
Sodium pyrophosphate (E450(iii)) is a phosphate food additive used for leavening, texture and stabilising functions. Goodnessly rates E450(iii) Caution, and permitted amounts and total phosphate intake matter.
Sodium pyrophosphate is used in specified food applications. Check the food category, amount and full formulation rather than judging one ingredient in isolation.
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What is Sodium pyrophosphate?
Sodium pyrophosphate is the tetrasodium salt of pyrophosphoric acid. It is used as a phosphate-based food additive where it can help manage acidity, texture and processing performance.
What's it used for?
- Supporting leavening systems
- Helping control acidity and texture
- Stabilising selected processed foods
- Managing processing performance in defined formulations
Where you'll find E450(iii) on the shelf
It can appear in baking mixes, processed foods, meat or seafood preparations and other formulations where phosphate functionality is useful.
Is E450(iii) permitted? What the regulators say
E450(iii) is permitted in the three systems checked, but category-specific permissions and total phosphate exposure still matter.
| Region | Status | What this means |
|---|---|---|
| AU/NZ Australia & New Zealand (FSANZ) | Permitted with conditions | FSANZ Schedule 15 includes additive 450 pyrophosphates, with food-category permissions and maximum levels applying. |
| EU European Union (EFSA) | Authorised with conditions | E450(iii) tetrasodium diphosphate is included in the EU Union list for specified food categories and conditions. |
| US United States (FDA) | Permitted with conditions | FDA 21 CFR 182.6787 lists sodium pyrophosphate as GRAS as a sequestrant when used according to good manufacturing practice. |
Goodnessly rates E450(iii) Caution within its rating system. The rating does not remove the need to consider the product category, amount or full formulation.
- EFSA’s 2019 phosphate re-evaluation set a group ADI of 40 mg phosphorus/kg body weight/day for phosphates from all dietary sources.
- EFSA reported that estimated exposure exceeded that group ADI for some children and frequent supplement users; this is a group assessment, not an E450(iii)-only limit.
- An EFSA follow-up update to exposure and specifications was still being worked through in the latest check.
This section is checked periodically rather than continuously — if you're reading this well after the date above, it's worth confirming nothing has changed before citing it.
Who might want to limit or avoid it
- People managing phosphate intake or kidney-related dietary advice
- People comparing processed foods with different phosphate ingredients
- People who want to check the full formulation rather than one additive alone
Goodnessly rates E450(iii) Caution as a practical prompt to understand the ingredient, the product and the overall formulation.
How to spot it on a label
Look for:
- Sodium pyrophosphate
- 450 or E450(iii)
- Tetrasodium diphosphate
- Raising agent (450)
Ingredient labels may use the name, the number, or the additive class followed by the number.
Related additives
Frequently asked questions
What is E450(iii)?
E450(iii) is sodium pyrophosphate, a phosphate food additive used for functions such as leavening, texture and stabilising in specified foods.
Is E450(iii) permitted?
E450(iii) is permitted with conditions in Australia/New Zealand, the EU and the US. Food category, use level and total phosphate intake still matter.
Why is sodium pyrophosphate rated Caution?
Goodnessly rates E450(iii) Caution because it is part of the phosphate group assessed against a group ADI, and exposure can be higher for some groups.
How does Goodnessly rate E450(iii)?
Goodnessly rates E450(iii) (sodium pyrophosphate) as Caution.
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