Foods naturally containing Citric Acid in Food include citrus fruits such as lemons, oranges and limes, according to a February 2015 study published by International Journal of Basic & Applied sciences. berries, except for blueberries, also contain citric acid, particularly strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries and cranberries. Pineapples, cherries, tomatoes, some varieties of peppers, artichokes and certain varieties of lettuce also contain citric acid. As an additive, citric acid preserves processed foods, giving them a longer shelf life, according to a 2015 article published by the European Food Safety Authority. In the making of cheese, citric acid helps to ferment milk faster, making it an essential part of large-scale cheese production. Commercially produced cheese uses citric acid to speed up this process. Soft drinks, particularly fruit-flavored varieties, contain citric acid added as a preservative and as a flavoring. Less-expensive frozen treats use citric acid as a fat emulsifier to keep the added vegetable fats from separating in ice cream, sherbet, and sorbet.
Citric acid is used both as a natural flavor enhancer and preservative in a variety of foods, such as jams and jellies, and canned fruits and vegetables. It’s also used in ice cream, fruit drinks, candy, and carbonated beverages. It helps to regulate acidity, functions as an antioxidant and helps retain color.
Citric acid is a natural acid found in fruits such as lemons, limes, peaches, plums, grapefruit and oranges. Citric acid is responsible for the tart taste in many citrus fruits and can be extracted by adding calcium oxide, which forms calcium citrate. The acidity of citric acid makes it an excellent food and drink preservative. The presence of acid in an environment inhibits the growth of bacteria; so many long life products contain it. Citric acid can also be used to prevent fresh fruit and vegetables from oxidizing and turning brown. Citric acid promotes healthy digestion, may prevent urinary tract infections, and is a natural preservative, according to the website Drugs.com. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved citric acid for use in food. Try citric acid as a preservative for both food and skincare products. Citric acid powder can be purchased at many natural health and food stores or online.
• Citric Acid is added to canned fruits to provide for adequate tartness.Recommended usage level is generally less than 0.15%.
• Inhibition of microbial growth is a function of pH and heat treatment.Higher heat exposure and lower pH results in greater inhibition.Thus the use of citric acid to bring pH below 4.6 can reduce the heating requirements.
Applications of citric acid plays a huge role in enhancing flavours, particularly in the drinks industry, as it a provides a sour, and refreshing flavor which offsets the sweetness of many drinks.
Citric acid is used throughout the dairy industry, in particular, within cheese production and processing. The acid helps to create the perfect environment for stabilisation of emulsions. Including preventing fats from separating. It can also be used to adjust the pH of both beer and wine solutions during manufacture.
The use of citric acid in processed frozen foods and as an additive in some fats and oils enhances the action of antioxidants, which effectively reduces the deterioration rate of these products. Keeping food fresher for longer and reducing waste. Along with the food and drink sector, many other industries use citric acid as a core ingredient within their production.
The cheese industry uses citric acid, particularly with mozzarella. It utilizes citric acid as a catalyst to quickly ferment milk. Faster fermentation means large-scale operations can create cheese more rapidly.
Many common vitamins and minerals work more expediently within an acidic pH environment. Citric acid is used in dietary supplements to accelerate absorption. Also, without citric acid, a vitamin C tablet would taste quite bitter.
Citric acid has many uses in food. It can be used as a preservative, antioxidant and food flavoring. Citric acid flavors many beverages and foods. Citric acid contributes to the high shelf life of many food products.