INS 452 is the code for polyphosphates
Longer-chain phosphate doing the same water-holding and emulsifying work in processed cheese, meat and creamers.
- What it does
- Keeps the texture even A stabiliser
- Also printed as
- Sodium polyphosphate · Potassium polyphosphate
- Vegetarian?
- Vegetarian From minerals
- In the Zabel score
- 6 of the 20 additive points Method 1.0.0
- In our catalogue
- 72 packs List it in their ingredients
Is INS 452 vegetarian?
INS 452 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 | 31% | |
| Yoghurt and curd | 23% | |
| Milk and dairy drinks | 18% | |
| Carbonated soft drinks | 10% | |
| Other beverages | 5% | |
| Everything else | 13% |
Counted from the 72 packs in Zabel's catalogue that list INS 452, 61 of which have a food category so far. Counted 4 Nov 2026.
What does the evidence say about INS 452?
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 452 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 452?
INS 452 is the code for polyphosphates, a stabiliser. Longer-chain phosphate doing the same water-holding and emulsifying work in processed cheese, meat and creamers.
Is INS 452 vegetarian?
INS 452 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 452?
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 452 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 452 printed under?
Packs also print it as Sodium polyphosphate and Potassium polyphosphate, or as the bare number 452 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
Point the camera at the pack.
Zabel reads every INS code on it, shows the score, and shows the working.