Understanding the Benefits of Tricalcium Phosphate in Food Manufacturing

Calcium has long been recognized as beneficial to one’s health when used as a supplement in food manufacturing. Its close ties to the human body for the formation and protection to bones benefits people in every age of development. Why would it be paired with phosphate, though? Does that give it greater benefit? Bell Chem, your food ingredient supplier, is here to answer those questions and many more about how beneficial tricalcium phosphate is for you and why it is listed as an ingredient on so many packages. 

Chemically, calcium is a metal bonded to the phosphate ion, which creates a polyatomic nonmetal. Together the two form a strong ionic bond as Ca3(PO4)2. The two micronutrients are crucial in the formation of hydroxyapatite, which strengthens bone’s mechanical resistance and skeletal mineralization. Separately, 99% of the body’s calcium is stored in bones and is a strong indicator of bone health. Phosphorus is present in cellular membranes and nucleic acids and promotes neuromuscular function, signaling between cells, and energy production. Since these vital micronutrients are easily bonded, it’s no wonder they are present in so many food products.

Prevents caking

As a fine white powder with virtually no flavor, tricalcium phosphate prevents caking and clumping in mixes because it acts as a humectant, absorbing up to 10% of its capacity in water. These mixes can include dry pudding mixes, table salt, sugar, pancake mixes, candy mixes, et cetera. 

Fortifies foods

Obviously an extremely prevalent role for tricalcium phosphate is in fortification. Any fruit juices, cereals or other breakfast foods with “Fortified with calcium!” on the label likely contain tricalcium phosphate. Even milk must be fortified with calcium and phosphorus because so many of its nutrients are lost during pasteurization and other forms of manufacturing. Along with milk, any product derived from milk – whipped cream, yogurt, buttermilk, cream cheese – also contain tricalcium phosphate. 

Provides opacity to plant milks

Because it is cloudy and white when added to a liquid, tricalcium phosphate gives the opacity of milk when added to products such as soymilk or almond milk. Tricalcium phosphate is also an emulsifier, stabilizing the appearance of these beverages and reducing separation.

Solidifies food

In fats used in frying, yogurt, and pudding, tricalcium phosphate binds with gelling agents to solidify the structure of foods.

Lengthens shelf life

Because phosphate is acidic, tricalcium phosphate changes the pH in foods and beverages and can lengthen the overall shelf life. 

Bell Chem is a food ingredient supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse, including tricalcium phosphate. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.

Tricalcium Phosphate in the Food Industry

Tricalcium phosphate is a virtually insoluble calcium salt of phosphoric acid. These properties make it ideal for many uses within the food industry, and because tricalcium phosphate is sourced from a mineral, it is considered vegan-friendly and allowed for use in organic products in the U.S. Bell Chem, a food and reagent product supplier, has compiled a short list of tricalcium phosphate’s most widely known uses.  

Anti-Caking
Tricalcium phosphate’s insolubility plays a vital role when it is an ingredient in dry cake and biscuit mixes, dry soups, powdered drink mixes, and any other food or drink mixture where flowability is necessary. Physically, tricalcium phosphate is a chalky, fine, white powder that can absorb 10% of its overall mass in moisture. Because moisture causes mixes to clump, this water absorption feature keeps mixes flowing freely.

Buffering Agent
Many fermented or canned items, such as jellies, wines, and condiments, have a naturally low pH. Tricalcium phosphate acts as a pH regulator, or buffer, to bring the pH to a more basic level. Acids have a strong flavor; the addition of tricalcium phosphate decreases that flavor, giving foods a more enjoyable taste.Clouding AgentReduced-fat foods often have a distinct mouthfeel that most people do not enjoy. As a clouding agent, tricalcium phosphate adds opacity while it smooths out lumps with its anti-caking properties. The result is a much more robust gravy or soy milk, for instance with a more robust viscosity we recognize as fatty.

Supplement
Calcium is an important mineral that strengthens bones. It bonds readily with other minerals, such as phosphates, to stabilize the molecule and deliver both minerals to the body. Phosphorus plays an active role in cell signaling and energy production throughout the body as well as in nucleic acids, the building blocks of DNA. Added to juice, cereal, or milk, tricalcium phosphate is likely to be the ingredient in these and other “high in calcium” products. Calcium is often paired with Vitamin D (such as in milk and other dairy products) since Vitamin D enhances the absorption of calcium.

 Bell Chem is a food and reagent product supplier with hundreds of products, such as tricalcium phosphate, stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.

Product Spotlight: Tri-Calcium Phosphate FCC Kosher

Tri-calcium phosphate, known alternately as TCP, tri-calcium orthophosphate, tribasic calcium phosphate, or bone phosphate of lime (BPL), is a calcium salt of phosphoric acid with the chemical formula Ca3(PO4)2. The Food Chemicals Codex (FCC) is an international compendium of standards that verifies the quality and purity of food ingredients. Bell Chem, the Tampa chemical supplier, proudly stocks this important additive. Here is a list of some of its uses.

• Clump Prevention: Light, powdery spices and baby powder have a tendency to clump if exposed to even minute amounts of moisture. Tri-calcium phosphate acts as an anticaking agent. It has the ability to absorb 10% of its weight in moisture to prevent clumping and allow the product to flow or pour easily.
• The Medical Field: Because it contains calcium, tri-calcium phosphate has uses in the medical field as bone grafting material and ceramic coatings.
• Reinforcer: The primary function of tri-calcium phosphate is fortification of the calcium and phosphate content in foods, nutritional supplements, and beverages.
• Regulates Acidity: On the pH scale, tri-calcium phosphate is considered basic and is used regularly as an antacid or acidity regulator.
• Use in Foods & Beverages: Reduced-fat foods and beverages utilize tri-calcium phosphate to give products opacity, thickness, and smoothness. Cheese manufacturers use it as a mineral salt while processing cheeses. Breads and baked goods require leavening agents such as tri-calcium phosphate to lighten and soften products by adding gas bubbles before and during baking.

The mineral source of tri-calcium phosphate (FCC, kosher) allows it to be used in vegan and organic products as well as part of a strict kosher diet. Its varied applications give it the ability to be utilized in a wide variety of foods and products. Tampa chemical supplier, Bell Chem, stocks tri-calcium phosphate (FCC, kosher) along with many other kosher products and chemicals. Call us today at 407-339-2355 (BELL) to speak with one of our trained associates, and read our past blogs for more information on Bell Chem’s products.

Tri-Calcium Phosphate

Tricalcium phosphate (Ca3(PO4)2) is a calcium salt of phosphoric acid. Containing both calcium and phosphoric acid gives tricalcium phosphate many positive health and pharmaceutical benefits as well as industrial uses. Below are only a few of the many uses of this marvelous product stocked by Bell Chem, your Florida chemical supplier.

• Cheesemaking and other industries employ tricalcium phosphate to regulate acidity.
• Baked goods often list tricalcium phosphate as an ingredient. When bread is baked, tricalcium phosphate causes bread to rise properly.
• Reduced fat liquids containing tricalcium phosphate are generally smoother and thicker.
• Many spices contain tricalcium phosphate because it deters caking and clumping. As a matter of fact, from baby powder and agricultural applications, thousands of products take advantage of tricalcium phosphate’s anti-caking properties.
• When pharmaceuticals need to be routed directly to osseous tissue (bone), tricalcium phosphate acts as a delivery system, bringing the medication directly to the bone.
• In antacids, the basic properties of tricalcium phosphate act to buffer the acid environment of the stomach while supplying the body with calcium, an important component of every body system.
• Common medical practice utilizes tricalcium phosphate as a supplement or stand-alone bone graft agent.
• Home water filtration systems find tricalcium phosphate works well to remove fluoride from water.
• Fertilizers often contain large amounts of phosphoric acid, which is typically derived from tricalcium phosphate.

Your body cannot function without calcium or phosphate. Calcium is imperative for muscle contraction, heart rate regularity, and, its most well-known function, bone health. Phosphate is less well recognized but is essential in the formation of cellular membranes, nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), energy production within cells, and bone mineralization (hardening). Supplementing your diet with tricalcium phosphate will ensure you receive the correct amounts of both nutrients daily.

Read more about all the chemicals offered through Bell Chem by reading our blogs, and contact our team of experts at (407) 339-2355 (BELL) with any questions pertaining to tricalcium phosphate or any of the other chemicals on hand at your Florida chemical supplier of choice.

Tri-Calcium Phosphate

Tri-calcium phosphate is a calcium salt of phosphoric acid. This chemical product is used in foods as an anti-caking agent and as an acid regulator. As an anti-caking agent, tri-calcium phosphate helps maintain the fluffy characteristics of most dough products, such as cake and bread. Tri-calcium phosphate is also commonly found as an ingredient in dairy products such as yogurt, as well as in carbonated beverages, powder-based spices, and candies. The human body needs calcium in order to maintain bone health and density. The circulation of both calcium and phosphate into the blood promotes healthy deconstruction and reconstruction of the bones in the human body. Additionally, an adequate level of calcium and phosphorus allows cells within the body to properly store and convert energy.

You can take tri-calcium phosphate to supplement your daily calcium needs if you're concerned that you're not getting enough calcium from your diet already. Tri-calcium phosphate digests easily and is usually less expensive than other calcium supplements like calcium citrate.

At our Orlando chemical supply company, tri-calcium phosphate is just one of the many chemical products we offer. In addition to nutritional chemical products and personal care raw materials in Orlando, we stock many hard to find technical grade chemicals and custom compounds. Call us at 407-339-BELL (2355) for a full list of our chemical products.