Trisodium phosphate is a common food additive found in many types of processed items like cereals, cheeses, soda and baked goods. While the FDA considers it safe, some evidence suggests that
phosphate additives like trisodium phosphate may harm your health
( 1 ).
Why is trisodium phosphate in breakfast cereal?
It is used as a leavening agent in bread, cake, muffins, and similar products. Trisodium phosphate in cereal is yet another common food application. The
chemical makes minor changes to improve dry, extruded cereal color
while also promoting the product’s flow through extruder equipment.
Why is TSP bad?
A toxic substance,
TSP can be harmful if swallowed
, and exposure to it (in granular or diluted form) can cause serious eye injury and skin irritation.
Is sodium phosphate in food bad for you?
Sodium phosphate is naturally occurring in many foods. It’s also added to foods to maintain freshness, alter texture, and achieve a variety of other effects.
Sodium phosphate is considered safe by the FDA but should be avoided by certain people
, including those with kidney disease.
Is TSP harmful to humans?
TSP is toxic
and can cause eye and skin irritation and is harmful if swallowed. … Always use eye protection and waterproof gloves when handling or cleaning with TSP. Also wear full skin protection, including long sleeves and long pants. Safety precautions apply to both dry and mixed or diluted forms of TSP.
What does trisodium phosphate do to your body?
While consuming small amounts of trisodium phosphate is safe, eating foods rich in phosphate additives on a daily basis could harm your health. High phosphate levels have been linked to
kidney disease
, intestinal inflammation, decreased bone density, heart conditions and even premature death.
Is trisodium phosphate banned?
Trisodium Phosphate (TSP)
It has been banned in many states
but is still sold in some places as a degreaser. TSP is also sold as an additive for cleaning products because it is no longer included in modern formulations.
Is trisodium phosphate the same as baking soda?
The main ingredient in TSP is phosphate, but this product contains no phosphate. It has sodium sesquicarbonate,
similar to baking soda
, as the main ingredient (sodium sesquicarbonate makes up about 20% of actual TSP).
Does General Mills cereal have trisodium phosphate in it?
Trisodium phosphate is a food additive used in packaged baked goods and meat products. Over the past several years, large cereal companies, like General Mills, have caught
some heat
for including it in their breakfast cereal.
Why is tripotassium phosphate in Cheerios?
Just because water can be used to clean garage floors and is found in tumours doesn’t mean we can’t drink it. Talking about washing garage floors, Cheerios also contains tripotassium phosphate,
a powerful cleaning agent
. It is added in small amounts to adjust the acidity of the mix used to formulate the cereal.
Can I pour TSP down the drain?
If you have very small quantities of a product that contains the detergent TSP (trisodium phosphate),
flush it down the toilet
or washtub drain with plenty of water.
Is TSP toxic to breathe?
TSP
is moderately toxic by ingestion
and is a minor skin irritant, but the big advantage of using it is that it doesn’t produce toxic fumes.
Can I mix TSP and vinegar?
Mix
1⁄2 cup vinegar with 1⁄2 tsp. all-purpose liquid detergent and 2 cups very hot tap water
. Combine in a spray bottle and mix well. Spray on then rinse with a sponge.
What foods to avoid if phosphorus is high?
- Dairy foods.
- Beans.
- Lentils.
- Nuts.
- Bran cereals.
- Oatmeal.
- Colas and other drinks with phosphate additives.
- Some bottled ice tea.
What are the side effects of sodium phosphate?
- irregular heartbeat.
- vomiting.
- fainting.
- seizures.
- rash.
- hives.
- itching.
- swelling of the eyes, face, lips, tongue, mouth or throat.
Is trisodium phosphate and tripotassium phosphate the same thing?
The difference between trisodium phosphate and tripotassium phosphate is that the
trisodium
phosphate has three sodium cations associated with one phosphate anion whereas the tripotassium phosphate has three potassium cations associated with one phosphate anion.
