Gorin says the citric acid in packaged food has been added for a variety of reasons. “It may be added to increase acidity, act as a preservative, or perform as an antioxidant,” she explains.

Find out how citric acid is used in everyday products, including food, medicine, and cleaning products. Understand its health benefits and its possible side effects.

Citric acid is a weak organic acid that occurs naturally in produce, such as citrus fruits. It is used in food, cosmetics, and cleaning products. Share on Pinterest vkbhat/Getty Images Citric acid ...

Medically reviewed by Suzanne Fisher, RD Citric acid is a compound found naturally in citrus fruits like lemons, limes, and oranges. It's what gives these fruits their distinct acidic flavors. The ...

On top of that, “citric acid is also an alkalizing agent, helping to decrease acidity in your body,” explains Maria Vila, DO, an integrative medicine physician based in New Jersey.

Food and beverages use an estimated 70% of manufactured citric acid, pharmaceutical and dietary supplements use 20%, and the remaining 10% goes into cleaning agents (4).

Within those guidelines, Velez says the amount you use is a matter of preference — you might want a stronger sour flavor, or something subtle. Since different batches of citric acid can vary in ...

These reasons can guide you in knowing more about your citric acid. All in all, citric acid is good for using in a variety of recipes as it helps bring out the taste of other flavours in food better.

Unlike its savory cousin, though, citric acid is so much more than a seasoning; it’s also a food-safe pH adjuster. Adding the smallest pinch to cake batter or biscuit dough enhances the ...

Citric acid is a weak organic acid found in citrus fruits. It is a natural preservative and is also used to add an acidic (sour) taste to foods and soft drinks. In biochemistry, it is important as ...