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. For example, when manufacturers add citric acid to wine, it improves low acidity and taste.
Citric acid provides many benefits when added to skincare products. It can brighten skin, minimize fine lines, and even skin tone. Manufacturers also use citric acid as an additive in hairspray, deodorant, and body spray. It preserves cosmetics and personal care products to ensure they do not grow mold, bacteria, or fungus.
Because citric acid is effective at killing harmful bacteria , it is a beneficial addition to cleaning products. It also has brightening properties that are useful for stain removal. Manufacturers commonly use alpha-hydroxy acids AHAs in skin care products because of their resurfacing properties.
As citric acid is a common form of AHA , it can benefit the skin. Individuals with dark spots, hyperpigmentation, or scars may find citric acid particularly beneficial. It's also present to a lesser degree in tomatoes and berries.
It is high in antioxidants," says personal trainer and nutritionist James Hickey in an email. There's not a whole lot of controversy about fruit-related citric acid, fortunately.
It's the non-naturally occurring citric acid that gets some people's knickers in a twist, which is not too surprising given that it's actually grown on black mold — the same type you might find in your bathroom. Even more daunting, this version of citric acid accounts for the vast majority out there in the world. Only 1 percent is naturally derived from citrus fruit," says registered dietitian Erica Julson in an email interview.
To manufacture mass quantities of citric acid, which is used in a dizzying array of products more on that in a minute , a mold called Aspergillus niger A. Other inorganic ingredients, like potassium phosphate and magnesium sulfate are then added, and once the ideal pH balance is achieved the sterile pans are introduced to the A. The resulting product is a mat of mold.
Several days later, the citric acid starts being produced until most of the sugar is consumed. Naturally, the idea of consuming anything that's been involved with a "mat of mold" has people feeling some kind of way, especially since this particular type of mold under other circumstances is a major contributor to food spoilage and can even cause some types of pneumonia!
So far, popular medical opinion indicates that there's nothing too grave to be concerned about, however. Indeed, some people might need to be a little more mindful than others.
That said, citric acid has been credited with some pretty impressive feats, such as protecting the brain thanks to its antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties. Hair Shampoo Conditioner. Bathroom essentials checklist. Don't use the FDA-approved dimethicone. Contact Us. Store Locator. Create Account. Puracy Blog. Citric acid Learn all about citric acid, including how it's made, and why Puracy uses citric acid in our products. May 9th, Get the best tips from the cleaning obsessed.
Unlike natural citric acid, up until the s, the majority of the world's manufactured citric acid came from Italy, where organizations extracted it from fresh fruits. Then researchers discovered that strains from a fungi known as Aspergillus niger could produce citric acid when fermented using a low-cost molasses as the raw material. Because of the cost efficacy and ease of use, this method is still used for approximately 90 percent of the world production of citric acid today, per an August article from Toxicology Reports , which analyzed the history of citrus acid.
Citric acid you see listed on ingredient labels is of the manufactured kind. This citrate gets added to thousands of merchandise worldwide, including:. Nutrition Nutrition Basics Healthy Eating. By Jennifer Purdie Updated December 20, Lauren Armstrong, RDN. Lauren is a Registered Dietitian with over 6 years of experience in the field.
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