Calcium acetate is a salt composed of calcium and acetic acid. It is a white, crystalline, odorless powder that is soluble in water and insoluble in alcohol. It is commonly used as a dietary supplement to treat hyperphosphatemia, a condition in which the body has too much phosphate in the blood. It is also used to treat calcium deficiency and to reduce phosphate levels in dialysis patients. Calcium acetate can also be used as a food preservative, as a buffer in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, and as a source of calcium in animal feed.