Comparing E334 - L(+)-tartaric acid vs E297 - Fumaric acid
Overview
Synonyms
Products
Found in 2,434 products
Found in 3,925 products
Search rank & volume
Awareness score
Search volume over time
Interest over time for 9 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.
Interest over time for 3 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.
Popular questions
Is tartaric acid bad for you?
No—L(+)-tartaric acid (E334) is approved for use in foods (e.g., EU E-number; FDA GRAS) and is considered safe at typical levels; very high intakes may cause stomach upset, and only the L(+)-form is used as an additive.
What is tartaric acid used for?
It’s used as an acidulant to add sourness and control pH, and as an antioxidant/sequestrant; it also partners with baking soda in leavening and is added to wine to adjust acidity.
How much tartaric acid to add to wine?
It depends on your must/wine’s pH and titratable acidity—bench trials are essential; as a rule of thumb, 1 g/L tartaric acid raises TA by about 1 g/L and can lower pH by ~0.1–0.3, with typical adjustments in the 0.5–2 g/L range subject to local regulations.
What does tartaric acid do?
It provides a sharp, tart flavor while regulating acidity, chelating metals, and limiting oxidation; in baking it reacts with sodium bicarbonate to release CO2, and in wine it helps set acid balance and stability.
What foods have tartaric acid?
It occurs naturally in grapes, wine, and tamarind (also in smaller amounts in some fruits), and as an additive it’s found in soft drinks, candies, jams/jellies, gelatin desserts, and baking powders/cream of tartar.
Is fumaric acid bad for you?
No—at the small amounts used in foods it’s not considered harmful; very high intakes may irritate the stomach or teeth due to its acidity.
Is fumaric acid safe in food?
Yes; it’s an approved food acidulant (e.g., GRAS in the U.S.) and EFSA has found no safety concern at authorized uses and levels.
Is fumaric acid vegan?
Yes; it’s typically made synthetically or by microbial fermentation and does not require animal-derived ingredients.
What is fumaric acid in food?
An acidulant that adds tartness, controls pH, and functions as a slow-dissolving leavening acid—commonly used in beverages, confections, and tortillas to improve flavor and shelf life.
What is fumaric acid made from?
Commercially it’s produced by isomerizing maleic anhydride/maleic acid (petrochemical route) or by fermenting sugars with fungi such as Rhizopus; it also occurs naturally in small amounts in some plants and fungi.