E450Emulsifier · Humectant · Sequestrant · Stabiliser · Thickener

Diphosphates

What the research shows

No concerns

none of the findings here link it to harm

Used in food as an emulsifier, humectant, sequestrant, stabiliser or thickener.

  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian
  • EU permitted

What research says

Studies in people

  • Benefit

    Iron absorption from food1

    In iron-deficient women, sodium pyrophosphate raised iron absorption from bouillon cubes fortified with ferric pyrophosphate.

The signal at the top counts the findings in people and in animal and lab studies. A concern in studies of people outranks animal and lab studies, and “No concerns” needs at least one finding in people. When most findings in people point one way, the page leans that way (“Mostly”), and every finding is still shown. Findings whose study type is not stated are shown but not counted. This page is a reference, not medical advice. It describes what regulators and published research say. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own diet.

Regulatory status

Checked Sep 2026

Status reflects the named register on the date checked. It is not a safety rating. A country appears here once we've found this ingredient on its official list.

How we check

Products

The 6 most-scanned of 18,942 products on Open Food Facts that list diphosphates.

  • levure pâtisserie 80 g 2 additives
  • Biscuits croquants au coeur onctueux de Nutella® nutella · 304 g 5 additives
  • Véritable Petit Écolier Chocolat au Lait Mondelez International · 150 g (12x 12.5 g) e 6 additives
  • Petit écolier chocolat noir pur beurre de cacao LU · 150 g 5 additives
  • Petit Cookies Pépites de chocolat Bonne Maman · 250 g 3 additives
  • petit déjeuner miel et pépites de chocolat TOBLERONE · 435 g 5 additives

References

  1. 1Cercamondi CI, Duchateau GS, Harika RK, et al. Sodium pyrophosphate enhances iron bioavailability from bouillon cubes fortified with ferric pyrophosphate. Br J Nutr. 2016;116(3):496-503. doi:10.1017/S0007114516002191