Even if you're fastidious about non-naturally occurring citric acid consumption, there's still a pretty good chance that you'll come into contact with it, as it's a common component of makeup, chemical peels, bath bombs, detergents, cleaning supplies and even supplements.
Citric acid stabilizes active ingredients in medications and improves their taste. Its antibacterial properties make it an effective disinfectant, which is why it's added to cleaning products.
Fortunately, this doesn't seem like an ingredient we need to worry too much about. Food additives are hardly a newfangled thing, as they've actually been around for thousands of years. In the U. Sign up for our Newsletter! Mobile Newsletter banner close. Mobile Newsletter chat close.
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Citric acid is found naturally in citrus fruits like lemons and limes. In fact, the word citric originates from the Latin word citrus 2. Beverages or food products that contain these fruits — such as ketchup in the case of tomatoes — also contain citric acid. While not naturally occurring, citric acid is also a byproduct of cheese, wine, and sourdough bread production. This is because producing this additive from citrus fruits is too expensive, and the demand far exceeds the supply.
Lemons, limes, and other citrus fruits are the predominant natural sources of citric acid. Other fruits that contain much smaller amounts of it include certain berries, cherries, and tomatoes. Manufactured citric acid is one of the most common food additives in the world. Sodas, juices, powdered beverages, candies, frozen foods, and some dairy products often contain manufactured citric acid. Mineral supplements, such as magnesium and calcium, may also contain citric acid in the form of citrate to enhance absorption.
Citric acid is a useful disinfectant against a variety of bacteria and viruses 7 , 8 , 9. A test-tube study showed that it may treat or prevent human norovirus, a leading cause of foodborne illness Citric acid is commercially sold as a general disinfectant and cleaning agent for removing soap scum, hard water stains, lime, and rust.
Citric acid is a versatile additive for food, beverages, medicines, and dietary supplements, as well as cleaning and disinfecting products. Citrate — a closely related molecule of citric acid — is the first molecule that forms during a process called the citric acid cycle. Also known as the tricarboxylic acid TCA or Krebs cycle, these chemical reactions in your body help transform food into usable energy Citric acid enhances the bioavailability of minerals, allowing your body to better absorb them 12 , 13 , In its natural form, it looks like small, clear crystals, similar to table salt.
Although it is odorless, it has an acidic taste. It is an alpha-hydroxy acid AHA. This means it has one hydroxyl group attached to the alpha position of the acid. Other AHAs include lactic acid, glycolic acid, malic acid, and tartaric acid. Manufacturers frequently use citric acid in many prepared foods, beverages, and vitamins. In addition to providing flavor, it also acts as a preservative.
Citrus fruits such as lemons and limes have the highest quantities of naturally occurring citric acid, according to research from Other natural sources include tangerines, oranges, grapefruits, pineapples, tomatoes, broccoli, carrots, and berries.
People often use citric acid in processed food and household products. Because of this, scientists developed a synthetic form of it using the fungus Aspergillus niger , or black mold. It is known as manufactured citric acid MCA.
MCA is one of the most common food additives. In addition, it is used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries and in cleaning detergents and softening agents. While MCA has the same chemical formula as naturally occurring citric acid, it can contain remnants of black mold.
This can trigger allergies or unwanted effects when consumed. Citric acid is a common additive because of its many benefits and minimal environmental impact. The three main industries that use citric acid are food, cosmetics, and cleaning products. Citric acid acts as a preservative in many processed foods, keeping them fresh.
It does this by slowing or helping prevent the formation of bacteria, mold, yeast, and fungus. This delays how quickly food spoils, increasing its shelf life. Additionally, it can help balance the pH level, or acidity, of a food or beverage. Citric acid also acts as a preservative in jams, gelatins, candies, frozen foods, canned vegetables and meat products because it maintains the stability of active ingredients, per the National Center for Biotechnology Information NCBI.
Because of its ability to preserve foods, canning food enthusiasts use citrus acid to prevent bacterial growth. Per the NCBI, citric acid can act as a water-conditioning agent, serve as a detergent builder, clean and polish stainless steel and other metals and remove sulfur dioxide from smelter waste gases. A November study from Applied and Environmental Microbiology found that citric acid serves as a valuable disinfectant combating bacteria. A March review in BMC Chemistry found that citrate can serve as a safe, harmless adversary of several viruses, including human norovirus.
A commercial paper tissue with just more than 7. According to the NCBI, citric acid is used in pharmaceutical preparations due to its antioxidant properties and powerful ability to change the unappealing flavor of raw medicine. The Cleveland Clinic says that citric acid can transform blood and urine, making them more alkaline. This works to prevent kidney stones.
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