INS 340 is the code for potassium phosphates
Same role as sodium phosphate but contributes potassium instead of sodium. Common in creamers, processed cheese and sports drinks.
- What it does
- Controls acidity An acidity regulator
- Also printed as
- Monopotassium phosphate · Dipotassium phosphate
- Vegetarian?
- Vegetarian From minerals
- In the Zabel score
- 6 of the 20 additive points Method 1.0.0
- In our catalogue
- 41 packs List it in their ingredients
Is INS 340 vegetarian?
INS 340 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Milk and dairy drinks | 28% | |
| Tea and coffee | 19% | |
| Biscuits and cookies | 17% | |
| Other beverages | 14% | |
| Nuts and dried fruit | 6% | |
| Everything else | 17% |
Counted from the 41 packs in Zabel's catalogue that list INS 340, 36 of which have a food category so far. Counted 4 Nov 2026.
What does the evidence say about INS 340?
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. Because it carries potassium rather than sodium it is sometimes chosen for reduced-sodium products; people with reduced kidney function are often advised to watch potassium as well.
Does Zabel mark INS 340 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 340?
INS 340 is the code for potassium phosphates, an acidity regulator. Same role as sodium phosphate but contributes potassium instead of sodium. Common in creamers, processed cheese and sports drinks.
Is INS 340 vegetarian?
INS 340 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 340?
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. Because it carries potassium rather than sodium it is sometimes chosen for reduced-sodium products; people with reduced kidney function are often advised to watch potassium as well.
Does Zabel mark INS 340 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 340 printed under?
Packs also print it as Monopotassium phosphate and Dipotassium phosphate, or as the bare number 340 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 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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