What is Sodium Phytate? Safety, Use Cases, & More

At Branch Basics, we believe in complete transparency when it comes to product ingredients, including our own!

Today, we’re doing a deep dive into Sodium Phytate, also known as phytic acid, a natural chelating agent found in Branch Basics Concentrate as well as other cosmetics, foods, and cleaning products.

In this article, you’ll learn more about what sodium phytate is, where it comes from, what it’s used in, its environmental impact, how to spot it on labels, and why we use it in Branch Basics Concentrate.

Chemical Makeup of Sodium Phytate

Most health-conscious people have heard of phytic acid, the natural acid (and antioxidant) found in plant tissues, such as grains and seeds.

We’ve written about phytic acid before in the context of how to remove it from foods to enhance digestibility and nutrient absorption.

Sodium phytate is a sodium salt of phytic acid sourced from plants, such as grains and seeds.

It is used as a chelating agent, preservative enhancer, stabilizer, and antioxidant in Branch Basics Concentrate as well as various cosmetics, food products, and other cleaning and laundry products.

Chelating agents are used in formulations to maintain their consistency and help preserve the formula by binding to metal ions that would otherwise feed bacteria and other pathogens that could spoil the product.

How do metal ions get into a product in the first place?

They typically come from water. 

At Branch Basics, we are very metal-conscious, which is one reason why we insist on using reverse osmosis (RO) water in our products. 

However, since our Concentrate is designed to be diluted with water by the user to make various cleaners and laundry soap, we cannot control what may be in the end-user's water. This, along with its preservative-enhancing and stabilizing properties, is why phytic acid is an essential ingredient in Concentrate.

Sodium Phytate is considered a human and environmentally-safe product and is rated “1” (least toxic) by the Environmental Skin Deep Working Group.

It’s one of the last ingredients listed on Branch Basics Concentrate because very little is required to achieve a chelating, preservative-boosting, antioxidant effect.

Related read: How Branch Basics Is A Healthy & Sustainable Cleaning Line.

Sodium Phytate Use Cases

Now that you know the why behind the use of sodium phytate in Branch Basics Concentrate, let’s look at some other use cases across industries.

Skincare

Sodium phytate is used in skin care as a preservative enhancer, as well as for its skin-loving properties, including

• As a moisturizer
• To improve skin elasticity
• To reduce pore size
• To reduce oiliness 
• To improve the smoothness and texture of skin
• To impart antioxidant benefits

Related read: Our Favorite Non-Toxic Personal Care Products

Food

Sodium phytate, which occurs naturally in plant-based foods like grains and seeds, is also used as a natural antioxidant and preservative during the processing and storage of oils, fruits, vegetables, and meat products in the food industry (Bloot et al., 2023).

As far as preservatives go, it’s one of the safer and more natural ones available.

Phytic acid, where sodium phytate comes from, is also naturally present in many plant-based foods.

Although there is some controversy about phytic acid’s benefits as a nutrient (antioxidant properties ) vs. drawbacks (anti-nutrient properties), it is a natural compound.

For those with digestive issues or nutrient deficiencies/insufficiencies, we recommend soaking grains, legumes, and seeds to reduce phytic acid content.

Oral care

Research has shown that oral care products containing sodium phytate may help reduce tooth staining. It may also be used as a preservative enhancer.

Cleaning and laundry products

As discussed previously, sodium phytate is often used in cleaning and laundry products as a chelator, preservative enhancer, and stabilizer.

Related read: 5 Best Natural and Fragrance-Free Laundry Detergents

Environmental Impact of Sodium Phytate

Sodium phytate has an incredibly minimal environmental footprint compared to synthetic (human-made) chelating agents.

It’s also 100% biodegradable, sourced from plants, a Made Safe ingredient, and rated “1” on EWG’s Skin Deep.

How to Identify Sodium Phytate in Products

Unlike less desirable ingredients, sodium phytate is typically easy to spot on labels.

It may be listed as:

• Sodium phytate
• Phytic Acid
• Phytate
• Phytic Acid Dodecasodium Salt
• Phytic acid sodium salt
• Phytic acid sodium salt hydrate

Sodium Phytate in Branch Basics

As mentioned previously, sodium phytate in Branch Basics Concentrate comes from plants and is used as a natural preservative enhancer, stabilizer, and antioxidant.

As anyone who has worked in natural and human-safe product formulation will tell you, it’s very tough to find safe, natural or naturally derived, biodegradable, and effective preservatives and stabilizers. 

This is why many self-professed eco-friendly products contain less-than-human- and eco-safe preservatives. 

Sodium phytate meets this criterion with additional benefits to boot and we’re thrilled to use it in our Concentrate.

It also has skincare benefits, which is awesome if you use Branch Basics Foaming Wash as part of your hair, skin, baby washing, or hand washing routine.

Related read: Is Branch Basics Safe?

Toss the Toxins With Branch Basics

Learning to read product labels takes some practice, which is why we’re so passionate about empowering people to be their own product advocates.

Sodium phytate is a perfect example of an ingredient that sounds natural but is also unfamiliar, so we hope this article has clarified its purpose, safety, and natural origins.

If you’re looking for a human-safe and environmentally-safe cleaning and laundry product line that’s Made Safe Certified,, third-party tested as a non-skin and eye irritant, and simplifies your life, we invite you to check out Branch Basics.

Our signature Concentrate, featured in this article, is designed as an all-in-one safe, natural, and earth-friendly cleaning product you could dilute to replace every single cleaning and laundry product in your home. It also has a multitude of other uses for personal care, car care, outdoor cleaning, pet care, and more.

Talk about simple!

We also offer: 

• Oxygen Boost, a mineral-based laundry booster, soaking aid, and bleach alternative
• Dishwasher Tablets that are free from phosphates, plastic, bleach, and other harmful ingredients
• Gel Hand Soap is a safe and nourishing hand soap free from fragrance, dyes, antibacterial chemicals, petroleum products, and more.
• And other helpful accessories and tools for healthy cleaning and a low-tox lifestyle

To learn more about Branch Basics, check out our Starter Kits (available in refillable plastic or glass) and see: for a complete written and video explanation of how the line works.

Curious about what else is in our products? See: Is Branch Basics Safe? Your Questions Answered for a full list and helpful explainer.