Comparing E302 - Calcium ascorbate vs E330 - Citric acid
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Interest over time for 2 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.
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Popular questions
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).
Is citric acid bad for you?
At typical food levels, citric acid (E330) is considered safe by major regulators (GRAS; EFSA/JECFA). Concentrated or frequent acidic exposure can irritate the mouth/stomach or contribute to tooth enamel erosion.
Where does the citric acid cycle occur?
In eukaryotic cells it occurs in the mitochondrial matrix; in bacteria it occurs in the cytosol.
What does citric acid do to your body?
It is a normal intermediate in energy metabolism and is readily metabolized to carbon dioxide and water. Citrate can bind minerals, which may enhance absorption of some and help prevent certain kidney stones by increasing urinary citrate.
Where does citric acid come from?
It occurs naturally in citrus fruits, but most food-grade citric acid is produced by fermenting sugars (e.g., from corn, beet, or cane) with Aspergillus niger.
How is citric acid made?
Industrially, sugars are fermented with Aspergillus niger to produce citric acid, then it is recovered and purified—often by precipitating calcium citrate and converting it back with sulfuric acid or via ion-exchange/crystallization.