Acids & acidity regulators · Food additive

Phosphoric acid (E338)

Updated October 2, 2026

Phosphoric acid (E338) is a food additive in the “acids & acidity regulators” group. It appears in 6,950 products in our database, 4,526 of them sold in the US.

Quick facts

Also known as
E338
E-number
E338
Function
Acids & acidity regulators
Found in
6,950 products (4,526 sold in the US)

Foods that commonly contain Phosphoric acid

Sweetened beverages 7% · 864
Sodas 11% · 847
Groceries 1% · 782
Diet cola soft drink 73% · 711
Colas 43% · 305
Cakes 3% · 237
Iced teas 7% · 229
Breads 1% · 126

Share of published products in each category whose ingredient list includes Phosphoric acid.

Popular products with Phosphoric acid

Coca-Cola Original Taste e NOVA 4
Coca-Cola Original Taste
COCA-COLA SERVICES SA/NV · 1 L
42 kcal
0 Fat g
10.6 Sugar g
0 Salt g
per 100 g · 0 g protein
Palm oil freeVegan
Coca-Cola sans sucres c NOVA 4
Coca-Cola sans sucres
COCA-COLA SERVICES SA/NV · 330 ml e
0 kcal
0 Fat g
0 Sugar g
0 Salt g
per 100 g · 0 g protein
Palm oil free
Coca-Cola Original e NOVA 4
Coca-Cola Original
COCA-COLA SERVICES SA/NV · 330 ml
42 kcal
0 Fat g
10.6 Sugar g
0 Salt g
per 100 g · 0 g protein
Palm oil freeVegetarian
Coca Cola Original taste e NOVA 4
Coca Cola Original taste
coca cola · 1.5 L
45 kcal
0 Fat g
11.2 Sugar g
0 Salt g
per 100 ml · 0 g protein
Palm oil free
Coca Cola e NOVA 4
Coca Cola
coca cola · 450 ml
42 kcal
0 Fat g
10.6 Sugar g
0 Salt g
per 100 ml · 0 g protein
Sweetened beverages
Coca-Cola Zero c NOVA 4
Coca-Cola Zero
coca cola · 330 ml
0 kcal
0 Fat g
0 Sugar g
0 Salt g
per 100 ml · 0 g protein
Palm oil free
Big Mac c NOVA 4
Big Mac
McDonald’s · 232 g
228 kcal
11.6 Fat g
3.4 Sugar g
1 Salt g
per 100 g · 11.6 g protein
7 allergens
Diet Coke c NOVA 4
Diet Coke
coca cola · 355 ml
0 kcal
0 Fat g
— Sugar
0 Salt g
per 100 g · 0 g protein
Palm oil freeVegan
Coca-Cola Zero Sugar c NOVA 4
Coca-Cola Zero Sugar
coca cola · 355 ml
0 kcal
0 Fat g
0 Sugar g
0 Salt g
per 100 g · 0 g protein
Palm oil free
Thumbs Up 750ml e NOVA 4
Thumbs Up 750ml
Coca Cola Company · 24
36 kcal
0 Fat g
9 Sugar g
0 Salt g
per 100 ml · 0 g protein
Palm oil free

Phosphoric acid-free alternatives

Popular products from the same categories that don't list Phosphoric acid and score Nutri-Score A–C.

Doubleshot Energy Energy Coffee Beverage c NOVA 4
Doubleshot Energy Energy Coffee Beverage
Starbucks · 15oz
47 kcal
0.7 Fat g
6.6 Sugar g
0.1 Salt g
per 100 ml · 2.7 g protein
Palm oil free 1 allergen
Prebiotic Soda Drink c NOVA 4
Prebiotic Soda Drink
Poppi · 1 16 fl oz
— kcal
0 Fat g
1.4 Sugar g
0 Salt g
per 100 g · 0 g protein
Palm oil free
Thirst Quencher c NOVA 4
Thirst Quencher
Gatorade · 20oz
24 kcal
0 Fat g
5.8 Sugar g
0 Salt g
per 100 g · 0 g protein
Palm oil free
Sparkling Energy c NOVA 4
Sparkling Energy
Bloom · 12 oz
3 kcal
0 Fat g
0 Sugar g
0 Salt g
per 100 g · 0 g protein
Palm oil free
Vitamin water dragonfruit power-c c NOVA 4
Vitamin water dragonfruit power-c
vitamin water · 20 fl oz
17 kcal
0 Fat g
4.6 Sugar g
0 Salt g
per 100 ml · 0 g protein
Palm oil free

How to spot Phosphoric acid on a label

Look for any of these names in the ingredient list:

Phosphoric acidE338

Related additives

Citric acid · E330Sodium citrate · E331Lactic acid · E270Calcium phosphate · E341Calcium sulphate · E516Glucono-delta-lactone · E575 All acids & acidity regulators

Frequently asked questions

What foods contain Phosphoric acid?

In our database, Phosphoric acid most often appears in sweetened beverages, sodas, groceries and diet cola soft drink.

How many products contain Phosphoric acid?

6,950 published products on Foodmetria list Phosphoric acid, including 4,526 sold in the United States. Counts come from ingredient lists in Open Food Facts and update daily.

Product data: Open Food Facts (ODbL), updated daily. Additive information is for general education and is not medical advice. Always check the package label. Our methodology.