INS 339 is the code for sodium phosphates
Controls acidity and stops proteins separating. Used in processed cheese, evaporated milk, instant noodles and cereal.
- What it does
- Controls acidity An acidity regulator
- Also printed as
- Monosodium phosphate · Disodium phosphate · Trisodium phosphate
- Vegetarian?
- Vegetarian From minerals
- In the Zabel score
- 6 of the 20 additive points Method 1.0.0
- In our catalogue
- 69 packs List it in their ingredients
Is INS 339 vegetarian?
INS 339 is from minerals, so it does not by itself make a food non-vegetarian. The green or brown mark on the pack is still the declaration to go by, because it covers every other ingredient too.
| Food category | Share | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Noodles and pasta | 33% | |
| Yoghurt and curd | 24% | |
| Milk and dairy drinks | 19% | |
| Tea and coffee | 7% | |
| Other beverages | 5% | |
| Everything else | 12% |
Counted from the 69 packs in Zabel's catalogue that list INS 339, 58 of which have a food category so far. Counted 4 Nov 2026.
What does the evidence say about INS 339?
We grade an additive by the evidence about it, not by whether it sounds like a chemical, and we make no claim about whether a pack complies with FSSAI rules.
EFSA's 2019 re-evaluation set a group ADI of 40 mg/kg body weight expressed as phosphorus, and concluded that a meaningful share of the European population exceeds it - the first time a phosphate ADI had been set. Added phosphate is absorbed far more readily than the phosphorus naturally present in food. High phosphate intake matters most to people with reduced kidney function, who are usually advised to limit it.
Does Zabel mark INS 339 down?
Yes, by 6 points. The additives part of the score starts at 20, and each code takes off a fixed amount set by the strength of the evidence about it, not by the fact that it is an additive (method 1.0.0). Read the method.
Questions people search
What is INS 339?
INS 339 is the code for sodium phosphates, an acidity regulator. Controls acidity and stops proteins separating. Used in processed cheese, evaporated milk, instant noodles and cereal.
Is INS 339 vegetarian?
INS 339 is from minerals, so it does not by itself make a food non-vegetarian. The green or brown mark on the pack is still the declaration to go by, because it covers every other ingredient too.
What does the evidence say about INS 339?
EFSA's 2019 re-evaluation set a group ADI of 40 mg/kg body weight expressed as phosphorus, and concluded that a meaningful share of the European population exceeds it - the first time a phosphate ADI had been set. Added phosphate is absorbed far more readily than the phosphorus naturally present in food. High phosphate intake matters most to people with reduced kidney function, who are usually advised to limit it.
Does Zabel mark INS 339 down?
Yes, by 6 points. The additives part of the score starts at 20, and each code takes off a fixed amount set by the strength of the evidence about it, not by the fact that it is an additive (method 1.0.0).
What other names is INS 339 printed under?
Packs also print it as Monosodium phosphate, Disodium phosphate and Trisodium phosphate, or as the bare number 339 in brackets after the ingredient.
Sources
- 01 Re-evaluation of phosphoric acid, phosphates, di-, tri- and polyphosphates as food additives EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings, 2019
- 02 Evaluations of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) WHO / FAO, 2024
- 03 Zabel catalogue - pack counts, food categories and the codes printed alongside 4 Nov 2026
Entry updated 19 Sep 2026 · Not reviewed by a dietitian yet · Report an error on this page
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