Crossword Genius

Salt from messy shop public house consumed (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

phosphate

'salt' is the definition.
(phosphate is a kind of salt)

'messy shop public house consumed' is the wordplay.
'messy' is an anagram indicator.
'public house' becomes 'ph'.
'consumed' becomes 'ate' (eating is a kind of consuming).
'shop' with letters rearranged gives 'phos'.
'phos'+'ph'+'ate'='PHOSPHATE'

'from' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for phosphate that I've seen before include "Salt used in fertilizers" , "Hope paths lead to artificial fertiliser" , "Acid salt used, eg, as a fertiliser" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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