How is citric acid for food
As an important food additive, what role does citric acid play in food processing, and what are citric acid for food advantages and disadvantages. Similarly, we need to know whether it is harmful to human health.
Which processing can use citric acid for food industry?
citric acid in Beverages
According to domestic and international statistics, the consumption of citric acid in the beverage industry accounts for 75% to 80% of the total citric acid production. Citric acid is one of the natural ingredients of fruit juice. It can not only give fruit flavor, but also have the functions of solubilization, buffering, antioxidant, etc. It can make the sugar, essence, pigment and other ingredients in the drink blend and coordinate to form a harmonious taste and aroma, and can increase the effect of anti microbial preservation. So, it is widely used to prepare various fruit type soft drinks, such as fruit type soda, which generally has an acid content between 0.10% and 0.25%. For beverages not filled with CO2, such as water, fruit juice, sugar, acid, pigment and essence mixture, citric acid is used to adjust the pH to a certain acidity, so that the titrated acidity of the product is between 0.25% and 0.40%. For fruit pulp solid beverage powder, the amount of citric acid added can be increased to 1.5% to 5.0%. In recent years, with the continuous improvement of living standards of urban and rural people, the demand for various beverages has increased significantly. It can be predicted that the amount of citric acid used in the beverage industry will increase significantly in the future.
Jams and Jelly
The function of citric acid in jam and jelly is similar to that in beverages, mainly regulating the pH of the product and giving it a sour taste. The pH must be adjusted to a very narrow range that is most suitable for pectin coagulation. According to the different types of pectin used, the pH can be limited between 3.0 and 3.4. In jam production, it can improve the flavor and prevent the defects of sucrose crystallization and sand formation.
citric acid in candy
Adding citric acid to candy can increase the acidity and prevent oxidation of various components as well as the crystallization of sucrose. Generally, sour candies can contain 2% citric acid. After boiling the sugar, add citric acid, pigment, essence, etc. in the cooling process of the syrup. Citric acid can regulate the sour taste and enhance the strength of gel in the production of pectin jelly. Anhydrous citric acid is used in chewing gum and powdered foods.
Frozen food use citric acid
Citric acid has the characteristics of chelation and pH regulation, which can enhance the antioxidant effect and inactivate enzymes, and can reliably ensure the stability of frozen foods. Citric acid, used alone or in combination with isoascorbic acid, helps to extend the shelf life of frozen fish and shellfish. It can inactivate enzyme systems that can cause fish spoilage and shellfish spoilage, and chelate trace elements. Seafood products should generally be soaked in 0.25% citric acid and 0.2% isoascorbic acid solutions before freezing, which is beneficial for preservation and refrigeration. It also has an effect on preserving fresh pork and preventing spoilage. Citric acid can also inhibit the color and aroma deterioration of frozen fruits, which is also a manifestation of inhibiting the enzyme system in fruits and preventing trace element oxidation. For example, the combination of 0.1% to 0.3% citric acid and 0.001% to 0.002% isoascorbic acid is effective.
Is citric acid for food harmful ?
Natural citric acid is non-toxic, while industrial citric acid is toxic
Natural citric acid exists in fruits such as lemons, citrus fruits, pineapples, and in the bones, muscles, and blood of animals. Citric acid is an edible acid that can enhance normal metabolism in the body. An appropriate dosage is harmless to the human body. Adding citric acid to food has a good taste and can promote appetite. Many jams, beverages, canned foods, and candies contain citric acid.
Although industrial citric acid and food grade citric acid have the same main components, their requirements for quality specifications are different. The national standard for food safety, “Food Additives – Citric Acid” (GB1987-2007), specifies in detail the quality requirements for citric acid used in food, with strict restrictions on impurities and harmful components, including arsenic not exceeding 1mg/kg and lead not exceeding 0.5mg/kg. As the name suggests, industrial grade citric acid is for industrial use, not for human consumption. Therefore, some indicators are not so strict, such as the content of harmful substances such as heavy metals, which is significantly higher than food grade citric acid.
Low intake of citric acid generally does not cause significant harm to the body
Low intake of citric acid generally does not cause significant harm to the body. However, long-term excessive intake may induce gastrointestinal diseases, gastric perforation, and damage to the nervous system.
1. Gastrointestinal diseases
Excessive intake of citric acid may cause irritation to the gastrointestinal mucosa. In the long run, it may induce the occurrence of gastrointestinal diseases such as gastritis or gastric ulcers. At this time, under the guidance of a doctor, medication such as omeprazole enteric coated tablets and sucralfate tablets can be taken for treatment to alleviate discomfort symptoms.
2. Gastric perforation
If it is a large intake of industrial citric acid. Because industrial citric acid has strong acidity and is prone to corrosion, it may induce gastric perforation, leading to stomach pain or bleeding. Severe cases may require relevant surgical repair and other treatments.
3. Causing damage to the nervous system
If children consume a large amount of citric acid for a long time, as their neurological development is not yet complete, it may cause damage to their own nervous system, leading to neurological disorders and affecting normal physical development. This situation can be regulated by taking medications such as Gu Wei Su tablets and vitamin B12 tablets under the guidance of a doctor.
In addition, frequent and excessive intake of citric acid may also cause harm such as hand and foot seizures. So, excessive consumption is not recommended. If you experience discomfort after consumption, you should promptly go to the hospital for relevant examinations, clarify the cause, and receive targeted treatment.