Also known as: Phosphoric acid, Phosphoric acid potassium salt (1:3), Potassium phosphate, Potassium orthophosphate, Tribasic, Tribasic potassium phosphate, Tripotassium monophosphate, Tripotassium-o-phosphate, Tripotassium orthophosphate, Tripotassium phosphate, Tripotassium salt

This ingredient is listed as doing a number of things in the food manufacturing process. These uses are to replace the use of more expensive food based ingredients, or to unnaturally extend the long term shelf life of products. Since one of its common traits is as a fungicide, it is used in products that suffer from spoiling when stored for a period of time. One of the main characteristics of real food is that it often spoils when not consumed in a timely manner. Manufacturers add a number of ingredients to prevent spoilage.

This is not added to improve the nutrient profile from a buyers perspective. This is only added to reduce the processing costs with an unnatural ingredient, instead of using a real food product. It's also used to prevent food from spoiling, so that it may be stored for longer periods of time than it would normally be able to be stored.

This is not a real food, and should not be consumed by anyone.

People with calcium deficiencies should always avoid this chemical, as it makes their calcium imbalance even worse.

It is listed as a fungicide and a herbicide as well. It's not listed as contained IN those products (like water might be) but this ingredient IS the actual fungicide or herbicide.

The US EPA lists this particular product as a highly toxic dangerous poison. It's listed as corrosive to skin and eyes at very tiny doses. It is literally deathly toxic at less than 50 mg / kg to rats.

Some people say that the FDA has approved it. But they have not. They have listed it as GRAS. What that means is that they "assume" it's ok. To get GRAS status, things do not need to be tested or investigated. This product has been banned for a number of other uses, such as being too toxic as a cleaning agent. The fact that the extreme hazard warning that's been placed on this additive does not cause some sort of red flag to be raised to at the very least to do some research to determine if it's in fact safe at the levels used in food, is extremely disturbing.

It is currently only approved in a small number of countries in the whole world. Much of the world has banned or never allowed it in the first place, due to its highly toxic nature.

Other countries have banned it because they have reviewed the existing research and evidence, and the fact that the countries that allow it in the food supply have chosen to ignore this information sheds light on the fact that the FDA and other regulatory bodies are not out to protect consumers.

It is made from either animal bones or from minerals. If it's in vegan food, vegans need to see if it actually states something like "suitable for vegetarians."

It is allowed to contain up to 10 ppm fluoride, 3 ppm arsenic and 4 ppm lead. For anyone wanting to keep these toxins out of their bodies, this is not a chemical they should ever be eating.