Tricalcium Phosphate for Food Formulations

What Is Tricalcium Phosphate?

Calcium is an essential mineral vital for numerous bodily functions, including bone development. It's important to maintain a consistent intake of calcium. While most people get enough calcium through their diet, if you're not consuming calcium-rich foods such as dairy, fatty fish, and certain leafy greens, you may not be meeting your daily calcium needs.  

Fortunately, various calcium supplements are available, typically in the form of calcium salts. These supplements generally have similar effects on the body. One such supplement is tricalcium phosphate.  

Why Phosphate?  

Because calcium readily bonds with other minerals, many calcium supplements combine calcium with other minerals and vitamins. In tricalcium phosphate, calcium is bonded with a phosphate molecule.  

While phosphorus deficiencies are rare, phosphorus is an essential component of cell membranes, nucleic acids, and many biological processes, including energy production, cell signaling, and bone mineralization. Calcium naturally bonds with phosphorus. Research has shown that tricalcium phosphate possesses unique properties, especially when used in self-setting bone cements, biodegradable bioceramics, and bone repair composites, compared to other calcium salts. However, as a dietary calcium supplement, tricalcium phosphate may not be more effective—and could even be less effective—than other forms such as calcium citrate or calcium carbonate.

What Is Tricalcium Phosphate Used In?

Tricalcium phosphate is an ingredient that is heavily used across many industries – toothpaste, antacids, bone grafting material, baby powder, water filtration, nutritional supplements and ceramic coatings – and it is also in our food supply. As a mineral, tricalcium phosphate serves multiple functions in food products.  

In foods, it plays key roles such as anti-caking, clouding, and fortification. These functions enhance the texture, appearance, performance, shelf life, and nutritional value of food products. Regarded as Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS), tricalcium phosphate helps food products meet consumer expectations, even after prolonged storage in the pantry or refrigerator.

Tricalcium phosphate possesses several properties that make it valuable in food formulation, including:

- It is nearly insoluble in water, has a neutral flavor profile, and is typically found as a fine white powder.

- Its chalky texture makes it an effective free-flowing agent, capable of absorbing up to 10% of its weight in moisture.

- The texture and color properties of tricalcium phosphate also make it an efficient clouding agent.

On ingredient labels, it may appear as tribasic calcium phosphate, tricalcium orthophosphate, or precipitated calcium phosphate. In formulation documents, it is often referred to as TCP, and it is also known as hydroxyapatite.

Tricalcium phosphate is also used to address the nutritional and dietary needs of consumers.  

Chemically, it is a calcium salt derived from phosphoric acid, and its primary role in food fortification is to increase calcium content. Due to its mineral origin, tricalcium phosphate is suitable for vegan foods and is permitted in organic products in the U.S.  

For those needing to verify the additive status in their country, tricalcium phosphate is assigned the E-number E341(iii), which represents a subclass of calcium phosphates. Its CAS Number is 7758-87-4.

Examples of How Tricalcium Phosphate Functions in Food Manufacturing:

- Acidity Regulator  

- Smoothness and Opacity Enhancer: Adds smoothness and opacity to reduced-fat foods and beverages, such as soymilk  

- Anticaking Agent  

- Buffer  

- Mineral Fortification: Provides calcium and phosphorus fortification in products like juices, soy beverages, yogurts, and cereals  

- Clouding Agent  

- Emulsifier  

- Firming Agent: Works with gelling agents to strengthen food structure  

- Flour Treatment Agent  

- Humectant: Used in some table salts, sugar, and baking powder  

- Stabilizer: Helps stabilize fats used in frying  

- Leavening Agent: Used in some baked goods and breadings  

- Mineral Salt: Found in certain cheese products  

- Thickener  

Is it Bad for You?

Multiple studies of tricalcium phosphate powder have shown it to be safe for both human and animal consumption. These studies have concluded that calcium phosphates can aidTrusted Source in bone and mineral regeneration. Future biomedical applications are promising.

As a nutritional supplement, tricalcium phosphate is similar in effectiveness to other calcium supplements. It has also established a reliable presence in industrial and agricultural applications. Due to its widespread availability and low cost, tricalcium phosphate is likely to remain in use for its current purposes while new applications are explored.