Information › Ingredients › Phosphates
Phosphates: E338 to E452 on a Dutch label
Updated on 4 November 2026
At a glance
- Kind
- Ingredient, not an allergen
- Also as
- fosfaat, difosfaten, trifosfaten, polyfosfaten, E338…
- Without phosphates
- 36,809 products
- Contain it
- 5,115 products
- Supermarkets
- AH, Jumbo, PLUS, Dirk and Hoogvliet
What are phosphates?
Phosphates (E338 to E452) work as acidity regulators, emulsifiers or binders, in cured meat, cola and processed cheese among others.
Recognise
On a Dutch label as
- fosfaat
- difosfaten
- trifosfaten
- polyfosfaten
- E338
- E339
- E340
- E341
- E450
- E451
- E452
May also be it
- emulsifying salts in processed cheese
We look for these Dutch words in the ingredient list itself, also between brackets. If in doubt, read the pack.
Shopping
Per shelf where phosphates are common (the shops’ own Dutch shelf names)
Examples without phosphates
- Kips TheeworstKips · 125 gDirk € 2,59Hoogvliet € 2,67Albert Heijn € 2,75Jumbo € 2,75PLUS € 2,75No allergens listed
- Verkade Lange nekkenVerkade · 150 gDirk € 2,99Hoogvliet € 3,32Albert Heijn € 3,39Jumbo € 3,39PLUS € 3,39Contains: Barley, Cow's milk, Gluten, Lactose, Milk, Soy, WheatMay contain traces: Egg, Tree nuts
- Mogu Mogu BlackcurrantMogu Mogu · 320 mlDirk € 1,79Hoogvliet € 1,79Albert Heijn € 1,85Jumbo € 1,85PLUS € 1,85No allergens listed
- Dr. Oetker BaksodaDr. Oetker · 25 gDirk € 0,95Hoogvliet € 0,98Albert Heijn € 1,05PLUS € 1,05Jumbo € 1,09No allergens listed
- Sprite Zero sugarSprite · 1,5 literDirk € 2,29Hoogvliet € 2,29Jumbo € 2,59Albert Heijn € 2,75PLUS € 2,75No allergens listed
- Lipton Ice tea sparkling flesLipton · 1,5 literDirk € 2,59Hoogvliet € 2,59Albert Heijn € 2,89 1+1Jumbo € 2,89PLUS € 2,89No allergens listed
All 36,809 products without phosphates (in Dutch)
Which supermarket has the most without?
On the shelves where phosphates are common: the share of products without it.
- Albert Heijn68%345 of 508
- Dirk65%953 of 1,470
- Hoogvliet63%381 of 602
- PLUS60%643 of 1,068
- Jumbo58%481 of 823
Brands without phosphates
On the shelves where phosphates are common, none of their products names it.
- Starbucks 38
- Fanta 28
- Oreo 24
- Santa Maria 22
- Bio+ 17
- Spa 14
- Fernandes 11
- Stegeman 10
- Happy sweets 10
- Ehrmann 10
- Royal Club 9
- Red Bull 9
What to look for in the shop
- Read the ingredient list: it is there by its Dutch name or its E number, the same in every language.
- Watch compound ingredients between brackets: it is sometimes in there.
Good to know
Recently without phosphates (8)These products named phosphates on an earlier label, and no longer do.
What are phosphates mostly in?Most often in the shelves ‘Koekjes’ (42% contains it), ‘Noodlesoep’ (69% contains it) and ‘Instant noedels en snack cups’ (64% contains it).
Most often in the shelves ‘Koekjes’ (42% contains it), ‘Noodlesoep’ (69% contains it) and ‘Instant noedels en snack cups’ (64% contains it). There is choice without it there too: 144 products on ‘Koekjes’, for example.
How do phosphates read on a Dutch label?As fosfaat, difosfaten, trifosfaten, polyfosfaten, E338, E339, E340 and E341.
As fosfaat, difosfaten, trifosfaten, polyfosfaten, E338, E339, E340 and E341. We look for those words in the ingredient list itself, also in compound ingredients between brackets.
How many products contain phosphates?5,115 of the 41,924 products with an ingredient list, about 12%.
5,115 of the 41,924 products with an ingredient list, about 12%. The other 36,809 do not name it.
Which supermarket has the most products without phosphates?On the shelves where phosphates are common: Albert Heijn (68% without), Dirk (65% without), Hoogvliet (63% without), PLUS (60% without) and Jumbo (58% without).
On the shelves where phosphates are common: Albert Heijn (68% without), Dirk (65% without), Hoogvliet (63% without), PLUS (60% without) and Jumbo (58% without).
A choice of your own, not an allergy
Phosphates are not an allergen: whether you eat or use them is up to you. We show what the ingredient list says, so you can choose. Recipes change: if in doubt, the pack in your hand decides.
More ingredients under Ingredients; allergens under Allergies.
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