Ingredient library

Neutral · Processing aid

Processing phosphates

Also appears on labels as: sodium tripolyphosphate, sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium bicarbonate (baking soda)

Sodium phosphate salts and bicarbonate used to hold moisture, control pH, and reduce tartar.

Watched ingredients get highlighted on every product panel you open.

Where it comes from
Chemical manufacturing.
Why it's in the product
Water retention in wet food, leavening in baked treats, and in dental products, sodium tripolyphosphate binds salivary calcium to slow tartar formation.
Safety and toxicity
Safe at the levels used. Total dietary phosphorus is a genuine concern in chronic kidney disease, and that is about the whole diet rather than this specific additive.
Interactions and who should be careful
Relevant for pets on a phosphorus-restricted kidney diet.

General reference, not veterinary advice. Dose, breed, and existing conditions change the answer, so talk to your vet before changing what your pet eats. Think we got this wrong? Tell us and we log it publicly.

Found in 12 scored products

Lowest scores first. Its presence here is not what drove those scores.