Comparing E260 - Acetic acid vs E270 - Lactic acid

Synonyms
E260
Acetic acid
ethanoic acid
E270
Lactic acid
milk acid
2-Hydroxypropanoic acid
Products

Found in 3,047 products

Found in 18,751 products

Search rank & volume
#2987.5K / mo🇺🇸U.S.
#2094.4K / mo🇺🇸U.S.
Awareness score

×4.19
over-aware

×0.74
under-aware

Search volume over time

Interest over time for 3 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.

Interest over time for 4 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.

Popular questions
  1. Is acetic acid a strong acid?

    No—acetic acid (E260) is a weak acid in water (pKa ≈ 4.76), though concentrated (glacial) acetic acid is corrosive.

  2. Is vinegar acetic acid?

    Vinegar is a solution of acetic acid in water (typically about 4–8% acetic acid by volume), not pure acetic acid.

  3. What is acetic acid used for?

    In foods, E260 is used as an acidity regulator, preservative, and flavoring (e.g., pickling, sauces); industrially it’s a precursor to vinyl acetate and cellulose acetate and is used in descaling/cleaning.

  4. Which statement describes the acid found in vinegar acetic acid?

    It is a weak organic acid (ethanoic acid, CH3COOH) that gives vinegar its sour taste and antimicrobial effect; food-grade vinegar contains at least about 4% acetic acid by volume.

  5. Is acetic acid polar?

    Yes—acetic acid is a polar, hydrogen-bonding (protic) molecule due to its carboxyl group, and it mixes well with water and many polar solvents.

  1. Does milk help acid reflux?

    Milk can briefly buffer stomach acid, but its fat and protein may stimulate acid production later, so effects vary by person; fermented dairy contains lactic acid (E270), whose acidity helps tartness and may help or bother individuals depending on sensitivity.

  2. How to drain lactic acid from legs?

    You don’t need to “drain” it—exercise-produced lactate (the same molecule as food additive E270 in ion form) is naturally cleared or reused for energy within about an hour. Muscle soreness after workouts is from microdamage, not trapped lactic acid; light movement and time help.

  3. What does lactic acid do?

    In foods, E270 is an acidity regulator and flavoring that lowers pH to add a tangy taste and stabilize products. It also inhibits spoilage microbes and is used to reduce pathogens on meats and in fermented foods, beverages, and pickles.

  4. What does lactic acid do for skin?

    As an alpha‑hydroxy acid, lactic acid gently exfoliates and increases skin hydration, helping smooth texture and brighten dullness. At higher strengths or low pH it can irritate sensitive skin.

  5. How to get rid of lactic acid?

    Your body naturally clears exercise-produced lactate quickly, so there’s no need to “flush” it. Staying hydrated and doing light activity can support normal clearance; lactic acid in foods (E270) doesn’t cause muscle lactate buildup.