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Sun City Citric Acid: Uses, Advantages and Disadvantages
Citric acid is found naturally in citrus fruits such as lemons and limes. Citric acid gives citrus fruits a sour and sweet taste. Synthetic citric acid is used as an additive in food, detergents, and food supplements. However, this produced form is different from what is naturally found in citrus fruits. Because of this, you may wonder if citric acid is good or bad for your health. In this article, we introduce Sun City citric acid, its benefits, uses, and safety.
What is citric acid?
Citric acid was first extracted from lemon juice in 1784 by a Swedish researcher. Odorless and colorless citric acid were produced from lemon juice until the early 1900s, when researchers discovered it could be made from black mold, which produces citric acid when fed on sugar. Because of its acidic nature, citric acid is mainly used as a flavoring and preservative, especially in soft drinks and candies. They are also used to preserve medicines and as disinfectants.
Natural food sources
Citrus fruits and their juice are the best natural sources of citric acid.
Examples of citrus fruits include:
• Lemon
• sour lemon
• Orange
• Grapefruit
• Mandarin
• Pomelo
Other fruits also contain citric acid, but in smaller amounts. These include:
• Pineapple
• Strawberry
Raspberries
• Cranberry
• Cherry
• tomato
Characteristics and formula of citric acid
| Citric acid formula | C6H8O7 |
| Appearance | crystalline white solid |
| melting point | 153 degrees Celsius (307 degrees Fahrenheit; 426 Kelvin) |
| Boiling point | 175 degrees Celsius (347 degrees Fahrenheit; 448 Kelvin) |
| Solubility of citric acid in water | 73 g/100 ml (20 °C) |
Synthetic sources of citric acid and uses
The properties of citric acid make it an important additive for various industries. It is estimated that 70% of the produced citric acid is used in the food and beverage industry, 20% in the pharmaceutical industry and food supplements, and the remaining 10% is used in detergents.
Food industry
Synthetic citric acid is a food additive that is made in factories. This substance is added to food to make it taste better and make it last longer. Synthetic citric acid can be found in many common foods such as soda, juice, candy, and frozen foods. It is also sometimes added to canned fruits and vegetables to prevent a rare but dangerous disease called botulism.
Medicines and food supplements
Citric acid is added to medicines to stabilize and preserve the active ingredients and is used to improve the taste of chewable medicines and syrups. Mineral supplements, such as magnesium and calcium, may also contain citric acid (as citrate) to increase absorption. In summary, citric acid is a safe food and drug additive used to improve flavor, shelf life, and nutrient absorption.
Detergents and disinfectants
Citric acid is a strong and useful disinfectant against all types of bacteria and viruses. The results of a laboratory study showed that citric acid may treat or prevent human norovirus, a major cause of foodborne illness. Citric acid is also sold as a general disinfectant and cleaner to remove soap scum, hard water stains, limescale, and rust.
Safety and hazards
Synthetic citric acid is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). There is no scientific and detailed study on the safety of synthetic citric acid in case of high and long-term consumption. However, one report found that four people experienced muscle pain, joint pain with swelling and stiffness, stomach pain, and shortness of breath after consuming foods containing synthetic citric acid. These symptoms were not observed in people who consumed natural forms of citric acid, such as lemons and limes. The researchers acknowledged that they could not prove that synthetic citric acid was responsible for these symptoms, but recommended that the use of citric acid in foods and beverages be studied further.
Is citric acid bad for your teeth?
Citric acid can be bad for your teeth. Found in citrus fruits, juices, and some processed foods, this acid can erode tooth enamel and increase the risk of cavities.
About the Sun City brand
Sun City is a leading brand in the field of food and permitted additives, which was established in 2010. This brand is dedicated to importing from different origins (China, India, Africa, etc.) and supplying food, dried fruits, legumes, and permitted additives. Sun City is known for expanding its activities over time, and the Sun City brand logo represents Sun City.
You can order Sun City citric acid and other products of this brand from Farah Trading Group through our contact page.
