Sodium aluminium phosphate, basic

INS 541(ii)

Used as an acidity regulator — Codex also lists it as emulsifier, emulsifying salt, stabilizer, thickener.

Basic sodium aluminium phosphate is an emulsifying salt for processed cheese, letting it melt smoothly rather than separating into oil and curd. It is a different substance from the acidic form used in baking powder.

Where it is and isn’t permitted

Status of Sodium aluminium phosphate, basic by jurisdiction. Every jurisdiction this site covers is listed, including those where the substance does not appear.
JurisdictionStatusScope and limitsCitation
United StatesFood and Drug AdministrationNot listedDoes not appear on this jurisdiction’s permitted list. That is not the same as being prohibited.
Codex AlimentariusCodex Alimentarius Commission / JECFAPermitted, with conditions

7 food categories

highest permitted level 1,600 mg/kg

Show every food category
  • 01.6.4 Processed cheese — 1,600 mg/kg
  • 06.2.1 Flours — 1,600 mg/kg
  • 06.6 Batters (e.g. for breading or batters for fish or poultry) — 1,000 mg/kg
  • 07.1.2 Crackers, excluding sweet crackers — 100 mg/kg
  • 07.1.3 Other ordinary bakery products (e.g. bagels, pita, English muffins) — 100 mg/kg
  • 07.1.5 Steamed breads and buns — 40 mg/kg
  • 07.1.6 Mixes for bread and ordinary bakery wares — 40 mg/kg
CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 541(ii)and 6 further provisionsretrieved 2026-09-07

What it is made from

Produced by reacting phosphoric acid with sodium and aluminium sources under alkaline conditions.

  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian

Every name it appears under

2 recorded names. A label may use any of them.

INS number

  • 541(ii)

Other names

  • Sodium aluminium phosphate, basic

Hazard reference values

No reference value for this substance in the sources we hold.

Evidence and how bodies read it

Studies, and the differing conclusions regulators drew from them, are curated by hand rather than machine-read, and none has been written for this substance yet.

Sources for this page

  • gsfa retrieved 2026-09-07

Full licence terms and publisher details on Sources. How this page is built and updated: Method.

Machine-readable:/api/v1/additives/sodium-aluminium-phosphate-basic.json