Food-grade phosphates & functional systems for meat, seafood, dairy & bakery

Key functions of phosphates

In food and beverage manufacturing, phosphates are used to:

• Increase water-holding capacity in meat, poultry and seafood by interacting with proteins and optimising ionic strength.
• Improve texture & sliceability in hams, sausages, surimi, fish fillets and restructured meat products.
• Act as leavening partners (with sodium bicarbonate) in bakery products to build volume and open crumb structure.
• Control pH and buffering capacity in processed cheese, dairy, canned foods and beverages.
• Provide anti-caking & flow in powdered ingredients such as salt, spices and premixes.
• Contribute minerals (calcium and phosphorus) for nutritional fortification in dairy analogues, beverages and supplements.

Atlas phosphates cover polyphosphates, pyrophosphates, orthophosphates and phosphoric acid, allowing you to design systems that meet your functional and regulatory needs.

Why phosphate system design matters

Using “any phosphate” is rarely enough. Choosing the wrong grade or ratio can lead to defects such as purge, rubbery texture, soapy or bitter aftertaste and off-label E-number declarations. Our role is to help you:

• Match phosphate solubility and reaction speed to your mixing, tumbling and cooking conditions.
• Combine phosphates with proteins and hydrocolloids for stable, juicy products.
• Stay within legal limits and permitted uses for each additive in your target markets.
• Optimise cost-in-use by selecting the right composition, purity and particle size.

Atlas Global Trading Co. provides typical usage ranges and documentation to support your own pilot trials and internal validation before full-scale rollout.

Combining phosphates with proteins & functional ingredients

Phosphates rarely work alone. Their full benefit is seen when combined with functional proteins, hydrocolloids and emulsifiers. For example:

• STPP + SHMP + proteins to build stable brines for injected poultry and seafood.
• SAPP + sodium bicarbonate to create double-acting leavening systems.
• TCP + vitamins to deliver mineral and vitamin fortification in dairy drinks.
• Phosphates + stabilisers from our Thickeners & Stabilizers portfolio for processed cheese and sauces.

Our technical team can help you select compatible ingredients from across the Atlas range, simplifying your supplier base while maintaining performance.

Application examples

• Injected poultry for foodservice and retail packs.
• Frozen fish fillets and seafood with reduced drip loss.
• Cooked sausages, hams and cold cuts with improved sliceability.
• Cakes, muffins and bakery mixes with reliable volume and crumb.
• Powdered drink mixes, salt blends and seasonings with improved flow.

Regulatory, quality & documentation support

Each market has different rules for maximum phosphate content, permitted uses and labelling (for example, E-number declarations in the EU and additive limits in Middle East or African regulations). Atlas Global Trading Co.:

• Provides specification sheets and Certificates of Analysis for every batch.
• Supplies manufacturer documentation to support your own regulatory review.
• Helps you understand typical usage ranges and labelling expectations for major export markets.
• Supports audits and supplier-approval processes with transparent sourcing information.

For deeper regulatory content, you can also explore our Atlas Academy articles on food additive labelling and E-numbers .

From sampling to long-term supply

Atlas coordinates sampling from leading Chinese producers, supports pilot-scale trials, and then shifts to regular supply with extended contracts if required. Shipments can be combined with other Atlas ingredients to reduce logistics cost and simplify documentation for your purchasing and quality teams.