Sodium Tripolyphosphate
Our ingredient score: 2 / 5 · Phosphate or acid additive · How We Score
Additives such as sodium pyrophosphate, sodium tripolyphosphate and monosodium phosphate are used to hold the food's texture together, keep moisture in and add flavor. Sodium tripolyphosphate is also added to reduce tartar. These additives add quickly absorbed phosphorus to the food; studies published in 2018 reported signs of kidney strain in healthy cats fed high amounts of soluble added phosphate, such as sodium phosphate.
Common Questions
Is sodium tripolyphosphate safe for cats?
Sodium tripolyphosphate, or STPP, is a phosphate salt that FDA includes on its GRAS list for animal feed. It helps food hold moisture and texture, and some foods use it for tartar control. It adds phosphorus that is absorbed quickly, and a 2020 review linked high intake of soluble phosphate salts in experimental diets to kidney injury in cats. If your cat has kidney disease, ask your veterinarian.
Source: doi.org
Why is sodium tripolyphosphate in cat food?
Sodium tripolyphosphate binds calcium and holds water. In pet food that helps texture and flavor, and in some dental formulas it is added to the kibble coating to bind calcium in saliva, which can slow tartar from forming on teeth. It also adds phosphorus to the food.
Does sodium tripolyphosphate help with tartar in cats?
It is used for that purpose in some dental foods and treats. The idea is that it binds calcium in saliva, so less calcium is available to harden plaque into tartar. How much a food helps depends on the whole product, not one ingredient. Your veterinarian can tell you which dental products have been tested in cats.
Is sodium tripolyphosphate the same chemical used in detergents?
It is the same compound, but grades differ. STPP has been used in some cleaning products to soften water, and food-grade STPP is made to purity standards for food. FDA lists sodium tripolyphosphate on its GRAS list for animal feed, both as a general food additive and as a sequestrant. The food-grade version is what goes into pet food.
Source: ecfr.gov
How does Pettings score sodium tripolyphosphate?
Pettings gives sodium tripolyphosphate 2 out of 5 and lists it as a phosphate or acid additive. It appears on 1 of the 149 dry cat foods we list. The score reflects useful texture and tartar uses balanced against the quickly absorbed phosphorus it adds. Each food's page shows how it scores overall.
How Foods With Sodium Tripolyphosphate Compare
Sodium Tripolyphosphate is on the label of 1 of the 149 dry cat foods we list.