Comparing E296 - Malic acid vs E331 - Sodium citrates
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Found in 11,508 products
Found in 14,247 products
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Popular questions
Is malic acid bad for you?
No—at normal food levels it’s considered safe (GRAS in the U.S. and authorized in the EU); very high intakes or very sour products can irritate the mouth or stomach.
Is malic acid gluten free?
Yes. Malic acid is inherently gluten-free; check the overall product for other gluten-containing ingredients.
What is malic acid used for?
It’s an acidulant that provides a tart, apple-like sourness and adjusts pH in foods and drinks, commonly in beverages, candies, and fruit preparations.
Is malic acid bad for your teeth?
Acids like malic acid can contribute to enamel erosion with frequent exposure (e.g., sour candies, acidic drinks); limiting contact time and rinsing with water can help.
Is malic acid vegan?
Yes—malic acid is typically vegan, made synthetically or by microbial fermentation without animal-derived inputs, though other ingredients in a product may not be.
What is e331 in food?
E331 is sodium citrates—the mono-, di-, and trisodium salts of citric acid—used mainly as acidity regulators/buffers, sequestrants, and emulsifying salts in foods like soft drinks and processed cheese.
How are sodium citrates used in molecular gastronomy?
They’re used to adjust and buffer pH, chelate calcium, and act as an emulsifying salt—commonly to make ultra-smooth, meltable cheese sauces and to tune acidity/calcium levels for techniques like spherification and stabilizing foams.
What are sodium citrates degradation byproducts?
Under normal food use they’re stable; with strong heating/combustion they decompose to carbon oxides (CO2/CO) and sodium oxides (and related inorganic residues).
Why does sodium citrates burn?
It isn’t flammable; any “burning” sensation typically comes from irritation of skin, eyes, or mouth at high concentrations due to its mildly alkaline, saline nature, and on heating it decomposes rather than sustaining a flame.