Is it safe to eat (have on your plates and dishes in case the rinse cycle doesn't get all of it off?)
Phosphates clean like nothing else. There will be less residue with phosphate detergents than with what you buy off the shelf these days.
Why was it removed?
Muh environment. Consumers accounted for 10% of phosphate use. Big Ag still gets to use it. The vast majority of phosphate in waterways comes from industrial use and farming.
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