food industry

Calcium phosphates are widely used to promote bone strength and health in dietary supplements, such as dietary pills and capsules.

Tricalcium phosphate is a mineral found in many foods for many purposes.

Within foods, tricalcium phosphate has roles such as anti-caking, clouding, and fortification. These all support the formulation of more desirable food products in terms of texture, appearance, performance, shelf-life, and nutrition.

Chemically, tricalcium phosphate is a calcium salt of phosphoric acid. Its primary function in fortification is to increase the calcium content of foods.
Due to its mineral source, tricalcium phosphate can be used in vegan foods and is also allowed in organic products in the U.S.

For those who may need to check the additive status for their country, tricalcium phosphate has E-number E341(iii), a subclass of calcium phosphates. It has a CAS Number of 7758-87-4.

Examples of how tricalcium phosphate functions in food manufacturing

Acidity regulator
Adds smoothness and opacity to reduced fat foods and beverages, such as soymilk
Anticaking agent
Buffer
Calcium and phosphorus mineral fortification – seen in some juices, soy beverages, yogurts, and cereal products
Clouding Agent
Emulsifier
Firming agent – interacts with gelling agents to strengthen a food structure
Flour Treatment Agent
Humectant in some table salts, sugar, or baking powder
Stabilizer in some fats for frying
Leavening agent in some baked goods and breadings
Mineral salt in cheese products
Thickener

APATECH Hydroxyapatite and tricalcium phosphate meet the requirements of current European Community regulations for Food additives, EC 231/2012 [E341(iii)].

Nano-hydroxyapatite is especially suited for these applications as it accounts for up to 70% of human bone and 97% of teeth enamel. Functional chewing-gums with nano-hydroxyapatite are suited for enamel re-building avoiding sensitivity.

As a food additive, Zinc Oxide in food products purposefully adds nutrients to food to increase its nutritional value. It acts as fortifiers that help to improve the appearance, flavor, texture, and storage properties of the food. Zinc Oxide is also often found in nutrition bars and breakfast cereals. People who are not getting enough zinc in their daily intake might want to consider looking for foods that contain added zinc oxide, taking into account the fact of its importance.