Draft: not yet reviewed by a clinician
Use this page to prepare questions for your care team. It does not replace their advice. Your own targets and doses come from your nephrologist, diabetes team and renal dietitian.
Phosphate additives¶
In short¶
Food makers add phosphates to keep food moist, help it rise, or stop it separating. Your body absorbs about 90–100 % of this added phosphorus, far more than the phosphorus in plants or meat (Kalantar-Zadeh 2010). Phosphorus does not have to be listed on the US Nutrition Facts label, so the ingredient list is the only clue (NKF; NKF label guide). Any ingredient with "phos" in it means the food counts as high in phosphorus, whatever the number.
The "PHOS" list¶
Look for these words in the ingredient list (NIDDK; NKF):
- phosphoric acid
- mono-, di- or trisodium phosphate
- sodium hexametaphosphate, sodium tripolyphosphate
- tetrasodium pyrophosphate, sodium acid pyrophosphate
- di- or tricalcium phosphate, monocalcium phosphate
- potassium or dipotassium phosphate
- anything ending in "pyrophosphate" or "polyphosphate"
Where additives usually hide¶
- Dark colas and pepper sodas (also diet colas: about 27 mg per 12 oz measured, 41–68 mg for some brands; clear diet sodas have none) (measured beverage phosphorus; USDA)
- Bottled coffee and tea drinks, non-dairy creamers (DaVita: creamers)
- Processed and spreadable cheese, cheese sauce
- Instant pudding; cake, pancake and biscuit mixes; baking powder
- "Enhanced", "self-basting" or "injected" fresh meat and poultry; deli meats and hot dogs
- Frozen entrées, pizza and fast food
- Some "fortified" cereals and plant milks, oat milk especially (NKF: milk alternatives)
(Review of phosphate additives; NKF.) The app flags these foods as
phosphate_additive and always rates them high for phosphorus.
What to do¶
- Read the ingredient list before the Nutrition Facts panel.
- If you see "phos", choose another brand or another food.
- Buy plain fresh meat and poultry; skip packages that say "enhanced" or "contains up to X % of a solution".
- Swap dark colas for water, clear sodas, or tea you brew yourself.
- Check plant milks and creamers: pick one with no phosphate in the ingredients.
Examples¶
| Instead of | Try |
|---|---|
| Cola (phosphoric acid) | Lemon-lime soda or water with lemon |
| Processed American cheese | A small piece of natural cheese, if your team allows |
| Pancakes or biscuits from a mix | Toast or an English muffin |
| Deli turkey or ham | Turkey breast you roast yourself |
| Bottled iced coffee | Coffee brewed at home with a splash of half-and-half |
Ask your care team¶
- Is my phosphate high enough that I need to avoid all additives, or just cut down?
- Which of the foods I eat most often have additives?
- Is my plant milk or creamer OK?
Get help now if…¶
- Additives do not cause sudden emergencies. For urgent symptoms, see Get help now.
Sources¶
- NIDDK: healthy eating for adults with CKD; NKF: phosphorus and your CKD diet; NKF: label guide.
- Kalantar-Zadeh 2010: additive phosphorus is almost fully absorbed.
- Review of phosphate additives in the Western diet.
- Measured phosphorus in colas and other drinks; USDA FoodData Central.
- NKF: milk alternatives; DaVita: coffee creamers.
Not yet reviewed by a clinician. Facts and sources last checked 2026-10-05.