Phosphate ndi imodzi mwazinthu zachilengedwe pafupifupi zakudya zonse ndipo imagwiritsidwa ntchito kwambiri pokonza chakudya ngati chopangira chakudya chofunikira komanso chowonjezera. Phosphate yopezeka mwachilengedwe ndi thanthwe la phosphate (lomwe lili ndi calcium phosphate). Asidi wa sulfuric amakumana ndi thanthwe la phosphate kupanga calcium dihydrogen phosphate ndi calcium sulfate yomwe imatha kuyamwa ndi zomera kupanga phosphate. Phosphates amatha kugawidwa mu orthophosphates ndi polycondensed phosphates: ma phosphates omwe amagwiritsidwa ntchito pokonza chakudya nthawi zambiri amakhala sodium, calcium, potaziyamu, ndi chitsulo ndi mchere wa zinki monga zolimbitsa thupi. Ma phosphates omwe amagwiritsidwa ntchito kwambiri pazakudya Pali mitundu yopitilira 30. Sodium phosphate ndiye mtundu womwe umagwiritsidwa ntchito kwambiri pazakudya zapakhomo. Ndi chitukuko cha ukadaulo wopangira chakudya, kumwa kwa potaziyamu phosphate kukuchulukiranso chaka ndi chaka.