category: food additives: preservatives

Phosphoric acid, E 338, de.: Phosphorsäure

Phosphoric acid (chemical symbol: H₃PO₄) is a relatively weak anorganic acid that is used in food industry as a preservative, emulsifier, acidifier (for example in cola drinks), or as acidity regulator. As a food additive it has the international number E 338.

Production of phosphoric acid

Phosphoric acid for the food industry is produced chemically from mineral phosphates or raw phosphates. Those mineral or raw phosphates are derived from mineral mining.

See also:
Phosphorus.