INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMME ON CHEMICAL SAFETY
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
TOXICOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF SOME
FOOD COLOURS, EMULSIFIERS, STABILIZERS,
ANTI-CAKING AGENTS AND CERTAIN
OTHER SUBSTANCES
FAO Nutrition Meetings Report Series
No. 46A WHO/FOOD ADD/70.36
The content of this document is the result of the deliberations of the
Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives which met in Rome,
27 May - 4 June 19691
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
World Health Organization
1 Thirteenth report of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food
Additives, FAO Nutrition Meetings Report Series, in press;
Wld Hlth Org. techn. Rep. Ser., in press.
CALCIUM AND MAGNESIUM PHOSPHATES TRIBASIC
Biological Data
Calcium phosphates insoluble in water and constitute the following
series: calcium phosphate (monobasic) which is used as acidulant and
mineral supplement; calcium phosphate (dibasic) is used as dietary
supplement in doses of 1 g orally; calcium phosphate (tribasic) is
used as gastric antacid in doses of 1 g orally; and bone phosphate.
Metabolically they behave as sources of calcium and phosphate ions.
These compounds need not be considered separately from other
monophosphates from the toxicological point of view.
Magnesium phosphates are mostly insoluble in water and form the
following series: magnesium phosphate (monobasic); magnesium phosphate
(dibasic) which is used as laxative, magnesium phosphate (tribasic) is
used as antacid in doses of 1 g orally. Metabolically they behave as
sources of magnesium and phosphate ions. These compounds need not be
considered separately from other monophosphates from the toxicological
point of view.
Comment
Monophosphates have already been evaluated in the Seventh Report of
the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives. The acceptable
daily intake for man of phosphates as additives should be related to
the total dietary phosphatesa and calcium intake.
EVALUATION
Estimate of acceptable daily intake for man
mg/kg body weight
Unconditional acceptance 0 - 30b
a See Seventh Report of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food
Additives (1964), Wld Hlth Org. techn. Rep. Ser., 281.
b As total dietary phosphorous intake from both food and food
additives.