Comparing E300 - Ascorbic acid vs E302 - Calcium ascorbate
Overview
Synonyms
Products
Found in 3,523 products
Found in 0 products
Search rank & volume
Awareness score
Awareness data is not available.
Search volume over time
Interest over time for 4 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.
Interest over time for 2 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.
Popular questions
Is ascorbic acid bad for you?
No—ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is considered safe at typical food levels and is essential for health; it’s GRAS in the U.S. and approved in the EU. Very high supplemental doses can cause gastrointestinal upset and, in susceptible people, increase kidney stone risk.
Can dogs have ascorbic acid?
Yes, small amounts in foods are safe, but dogs synthesize their own vitamin C and usually don’t need supplements. High doses may cause diarrhea, so consult a veterinarian before supplementing.
What is ascorbic acid made from?
Commercial ascorbic acid is typically made from glucose (often derived from corn, wheat, or cassava) that’s converted via microbial fermentation and chemical steps into L‑ascorbic acid.
How is ascorbic acid made?
Industrially, D‑glucose is converted to 2‑keto‑L‑gulonic acid by fermentation (or via the older Reichstein process: glucose → sorbitol → L‑sorbose → 2‑KGA) and then chemically cyclized to ascorbic acid. Modern methods use two-step fermentation to improve efficiency.
Is ascorbic acid the same as citric acid?
No—ascorbic acid (E300) is vitamin C and an antioxidant, while citric acid (E330) is a different compound mainly used as an acidulant and does not provide vitamin C.
Is calcium ascorbate bad for you?
No—at the small amounts used in foods it isn’t considered harmful and can provide vitamin C (and a little calcium). Very high supplemental intakes may cause stomach upset, and people prone to kidney stones or with iron overload should be cautious with high vitamin C.
What is calcium ascorbate made from?
It’s the calcium salt of ascorbic acid (vitamin C). Industrially, ascorbic acid is made by fermenting plant-derived glucose, then neutralized with a calcium source (e.g., calcium carbonate or hydroxide) to form calcium ascorbate.
Is calcium ascorbate safe?
Yes—it's approved in the EU, US, and Australia/New Zealand and is generally recognized as safe at normal food-use levels. Excessive supplemental doses may cause gastrointestinal upset.
Is calcium ascorbate synthetic?
Usually yes: it's produced via microbial fermentation of sugars followed by chemical neutralization with calcium, rather than being extracted directly from plants.
What is calcium ascorbate used for?
It’s used as an antioxidant to slow oxidation and browning, helping preserve flavor and color (e.g., in beverages, fresh-cut produce, and meats), and to fortify foods with vitamin C (and some calcium).