FDA Status
GRAS
Leavening Agent · CAS 7785-88-8 · EU E541
Sodium Aluminum Phosphate
FDA status: GRAS. EU: Approved. No U.S. state has enacted a specific ban yet.
3.0 / 5
Composite safety Mixed Evidence
Score 3 of 5
Sodium Aluminum Phosphate: 3/5 (Mixed Evidence)
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Sodium Aluminum Phosphate is classified GRAS by the FDA, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it independently of federal policy. Its composite safety score is 3 out of 5 (Mixed Evidence), and the European Union separately classifies it as approved. It is more widely-used than most tracked additives.
- 76th percentile by tracked product prevalence
The verdict
Sodium Aluminum Phosphate is classified GRAS by the FDA, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it. It is more widely-used than most tracked additives (76th percentile by tracked product count).
- 3/5
- Mixed Evidence
- GRAS
- FDA status
- 76th pctile
- by product prevalence
- 0
- state regulations
Sodium Aluminum Phosphate (E541), CAS 7785-88-8, is a leavening agent additive holding a composite safety score of 3 out of 5 (Mixed Evidence). According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Substances Added to Food inventory, it is currently classified as GRAS, while the European Union lists it as Approved. This ingredient appears in approximately 242 tracked food products across our database. It is most commonly used as Self-rising flour, baking mixes.
No U.S. state has enacted specific legislation targeting Sodium Aluminum Phosphate to date, keeping federal FDA classification as the operative standard. State-level food safety legislation remains active nationally, and that picture may shift as new bills advance.
Peer-reviewed research has flagged 1 distinct area of health concern for Sodium Aluminum Phosphate, which factors directly into the assigned safety score. All figures above draw on FDA SAFFA inventory records, EU food additive regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, EFSA scientific opinions where published, and legislative records from individual U.S. states.
Regulatory Snapshot
| Property | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| FDA Status | GRAS | FDA SAFFA |
| EU Status | Approved | EC 1333/2008 |
| E-Number | E541 | EU additive register |
| CAS Number | 7785-88-8 | CAS Registry |
| Category | Leavening Agent | FDA functional class |
| Composite Safety Score | 3 / 5 (Mixed Evidence) | PlainIngredients methodology |
| EFSA ADI | Not established | EFSA scientific opinion |
| U.S. State Actions | 0 states | State legislative records |
| Tracked Products | 242 | Open Food Facts (US) |
Values reflect official agency classifications as published by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Union's regulatory framework. See our methodology for scoring details.
EU Status
Approved
E541
U.S. State Regulations
0 states
None enacted
Safety Assessment
Sodium Aluminum Phosphate's 3/5 (Mixed Evidence) score reflects where this specific ingredient lands on that scale. The FDA classifies Sodium Aluminum Phosphate as "Generally Recognized As Safe" (GRAS), meaning qualified experts consider it safe under intended conditions of use.
Research has identified 1 area of health concern associated with Sodium Aluminum Phosphate. Consumers with specific health conditions should consult a healthcare provider before consuming products containing this ingredient.
How Sodium Aluminum Phosphate compares
Where a safety score of 3/5 falls among all 4,509 scored ingredients tracked on PlainIngredients.
Ingredients by safety score (Sodium Aluminum Phosphate highlighted)
25 of 4,509 scored ingredients (0.6%) share a safety score of 3/5.
What is Sodium Aluminum Phosphate?
Slow-acting leavening agent.
Health Concerns
- Aluminum concerns debunked but some prefer to avoid.
Common Uses
Self-rising flour, baking mixes
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sodium Aluminum Phosphate safe to consume?
Sodium Aluminum Phosphate has a safety score of 3/5 (Mixed Evidence). It is approved by the FDA for use in food. As with all food additives, moderation is advisable.
What is Sodium Aluminum Phosphate used for in food?
Sodium Aluminum Phosphate is commonly used as: Self-rising flour, baking mixes. It belongs to the Leavening Agent category of food additives.
Is Sodium Aluminum Phosphate banned in any US states?
Currently, no US states have enacted specific bans or regulations targeting Sodium Aluminum Phosphate. However, state food safety legislation is evolving rapidly.
What is the difference between FDA and EU regulation of Sodium Aluminum Phosphate?
The FDA classifies Sodium Aluminum Phosphate as "GRAS", while the EU status is "Approved" (E541). The FDA and EU use separate evaluation frameworks, the EU often applies the precautionary principle, sometimes banning additives that remain approved in the US. Always check both jurisdictions when evaluating food additive safety.
What health concerns are associated with Sodium Aluminum Phosphate?
Research has identified the following health concerns for Sodium Aluminum Phosphate: Aluminum concerns debunked but some prefer to avoid.. These findings inform its safety score of 3/5. Consult a healthcare provider for personalized guidance, especially if you have pre-existing conditions.
How is the safety score for Sodium Aluminum Phosphate calculated?
The safety score of 3/5 for Sodium Aluminum Phosphate is a composite assessment based on FDA regulatory status, EU approval status, published scientific research on health effects, and state-level legislative actions. A score of 1 means "Banned / Avoid" and 5 means "Generally Safe." The score is updated as new regulatory actions or scientific evidence emerge.
Data Sources
- FDA Substances Added to Food (SAFFA) Inventory
- EU Food Additive Regulations (EC) No 1333/2008
- State food safety legislation and bill records
Related Leavening Agent Ingredients
What to do about Sodium Aluminum Phosphate
Use the regulatory picture, not a single score, to decide.
- Check the FDA status (GRAS) and EU status (Approved) before assuming it is risk-free. How we score
- Compare it against the most-restricted additives in the U.S. supply. View rankings
- Scan a whole ingredient label at once to flag the concerning entries. Label checker
Safety scores summarise regulatory status and published concerns; they are not medical or dietary advice.
Every figure on PlainIngredients is rendered directly from FDA, EU, EFSA and U.S. state regulatory records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.