National Kidney Foundation Leads Letter to FDA Regarding Inclusion of Phosphorus on Nutrition Facts Labels

Making healthy food choices shouldn’t require decoding chemistry terms or guessing what ingredients are in your groceries, but that is exactly what millions of Americans are forced to do. The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) and partner organizations are urging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take a simple, powerful step: require phosphorus content on Nutrition Facts labels.

This change would help people with kidney disease, heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic conditions protect their health, and it would support all Americans in making more informed food choices.

Phosphorus is a mineral found naturally in many foods. But large amounts are also added to processed foods in the form of phosphate additives. These additives are absorbed almost completely by the body, which can cause phosphorus levels to rise far higher than people realize. 

For people living with chronic kidney disease (CKD), the body cannot remove excess phosphorus effectively. That buildup contributes to serious health problems, including:

• Cardiovascular disease
• Bone disease and fractures
• Calcification of blood vessels
• Increased risk of death

But CKD patients aren’t the only ones at risk. Research shows that high phosphorus intake is linked to health concerns in the general population, too, including higher risks of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, prostate cancer, and breast cancer.

Even though phosphorus affects major chronic conditions, Americans have no way to know how much phosphorus is in their food. Manufacturers use more than 50 types of phosphate additives, yet they are not required to list how much they use. 

As a result:

• Nearly half of the top-selling grocery items contain added phosphorus
• Some ingredients, like lecithin and modified starch, add phosphorus without being obvious 

Because phosphorus isn’t on the Nutrition Facts label, patients and families must scan long ingredient lists for words like “pyrophosphate” and “tripolyphosphate” and hope they guess correctly.

NKF is urging the FDA to require two new numbers on every Nutrition Facts label:

1. Total phosphorus: the full amount in the product
2. Added phosphorus: the amount coming from industrial additives

This would work just like “added sugars,” giving people a clear understanding of what they’re consuming. With this information, families could make safer choices, clinicians could give more accurate guidance, and companies would be encouraged to use fewer high-risk additives.

Read our letter to the FDA.

Adding phosphorus to Nutrition Facts labels would:

• Help people with kidney disease manage their levels more effectively
• Support heart health and diabetes prevention
• Improve nutrition counseling from healthcare professionals
• Reduce preventable health complications and associated costs
• Promote health equity for communities disproportionately affected by kidney disease

NKF stands ready to help the FDA develop and implement phosphorus labeling by bringing together medical experts, nutrition scientists, patient advocates, and food industry partners. This change would bring the U.S. one step closer to transparent, science-based nutrition labeling that protects everyone’s health.

Join NKF in telling the FDA to add phosphorus to food labels.