Acidity regulator E330 citric acid. Lemon acid. Food additive E330. Use in everyday life

The Kedr group, based on the results of its own independent examination, classified the food additive E 330 as a carcinogen with the caveat that only large doses of the substance are dangerous.

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Main manufacturers

50% of supplied citric acid is produced by Chinese enterprises.

The remaining share of production is distributed between Russia, the USA, and France.

Main manufacturers:

• Citrobel LLC (formerly the Belgorod Citric Acid Plant), the company's share accounts for 40% of the citric acid on the domestic market;
• Anhui Fengyuan Biochemical Co. Ltd (China);
• agro-industrial corporation Archer Daniels Midland (USA).

The healing power of lemon has been known since ancient times. Prudent Egyptians generously added it to their food not only for the fullness of taste. Sour fruits neutralized the effects of poisons, which in difficult times were usually mixed into food for enemies.

The absence of traces of lemon in the modern food additive E 330 does not detract from its advantages. The taste and medicinal properties of artificial citric acid allow us to consider it one of the most useful.

You just have to remember the need to observe moderation.

Citric acid is perhaps the most popular food additive, which can always be found in almost every home. Many housewives know a variety of ways to use this substance for various other household purposes (besides cooking). However, its properties are so diverse and amazing that it is worth telling about it in more detail.

General characteristics and formula

The chemical name of the substance will probably seem difficult to pronounce to a non-specialist. Try this without prior training:“two-hydroxy-one-two-tri-propanetricarboxylic acid” or, when visiting, ask your neighbor to give you THIS to add to okroshka. By the way, the English version sounds much simpler: “citric acid”.

The formula of the substance looks no less impressive: HOOC-CH2-C(OH)COOH-CH2-COOH or (HOOCCH2)2C(OH)COOH or, simplified, C6H8O7. For those who remember even a little school chemistry lessons, it is clear from this formula that we are talking about an organic substance. Three carbon atoms, six oxygen atoms and three hydrogen atoms in it form three carboxyl groups (COOH), that is, we are talking about a tribasic carboxylic acid.

However, for the purposes of our article, it is not the names and formulas that are interesting, but, first of all, the physical properties of this substance.

Did you know? The substance received its name due to the fact that it was first isolated from the juice of unripe lemons. We owe this important discovery for all mankind, which was made back in 1784, to the Swedish chemist and pharmacist Karl Scheele.

Everyone knows what the substance looks like. It is a white crystalline powder. In dry form, it has a melting point of +153 °C, its density is 1.542 g/cm3.

It is perfectly soluble in water, even at room temperature 132 g of the substance can be dissolved in 100 ml of water, in addition, it dissolves well in ethyl, methyl and propyl alcohol, hydrogen fluoride, formic acid, diethyl ether, dioxane, dimethyl sulfoxide. Insoluble in chloroform, toluene, carbon disulfide, benzene.

At a temperature of +175 °C, the substance forms aconitic (A) and acetone dicarboxylic (B) acids in the mixture, and upon subsequent heating - itaconic acid(it is formed due to the removal of one hydrogen particle).

During dry distillation, decarboxylation of the substance occurs (elimination of carbon dioxide and evaporation of water), resulting in the formation of acetone and anhydrides of itaconic and citraconic acid, and when calcined with alkali, salts of oxalic and acetic acid.

Citric acid salts(citrates) are formed by replacing hydrogen with the acyl residue RCO.

Due to the remoteness of the extreme carboxyl groups from each other, the substance does not actively participate in various chemical reactions, and therefore is considered a weak acid.

Sources of citric acid

The organic substance in question is quite widespread in nature, and it is found not only in lemons, where its amount can reach 8%, but also in other citrus fruits.

In addition, citric acid is also found in:

• (tomatoes, artichokes, some varieties of peppers);
• berries (almost all except blueberries:);
• pine needles, Chinese lemongrass, cotton and shag. Interestingly, it is also present in the tissues of many protozoa.

Important! The sour taste of most vegetables and fruits is given not by citric acid, but by ascorbic acid (vitamin C).

It should be said that earlier (until the 20s of the twentieth century), the organic supplement, however, was obtained mainly from lemons. However, this method is quite expensive: in order to obtain 100 kg of the substance, you need to process at least four tons of valuable citrus fruits.

Therefore, today it is synthesized artificially. To do this, sugary substances, waste from sugar production, are artificially infected with a special mold fungus of the genus Aspergillius niger (for convenience, very often such production is carried out directly at sugar factories).

What are the benefits of the supplement?

Citric acid as a food additive has many beneficial properties. Like , this substance is the strongest natural substance and, therefore, helps strengthen protection against negative environmental factors. In moderate doses, it does not affect the mucous membranes of the digestive system, but it perfectly stimulates its functioning, in addition, it helps eliminate harmful substances, free radicals, salts and other nasties (including alcohol toxins, which is why it is used for hangover syndrome), inhibits the development of atypical cells and even improves vision.

Once in the stomach and absorbed into the blood, the acid has a stimulating effect on all metabolic processes, which is why it is often used in various methods of quick and healthy weight loss.

Men will be interested to know that this dietary supplement helps improve sperm quality and, accordingly, makes pregnancy more likely. By the way, a mother expecting the birth of a baby, on the contrary, should refrain from consuming citric acid, especially if pregnancy is accompanied by heartburn, nausea, pressure surges and allergic dermatitis.

Areas of application of E330

In industry, citric acid known as food additive E330(officially registered food symbol).

Did you know? Interestingly, in the 70s of the last century, the food additive E330 was included in the so-called Villejuif list as a substance hazardous to health (carcinogen). Undeserved accusations against it were finally dropped only twenty years later, and until that moment, all of civilized Europe and even many states in Africa and the Middle East considered it poison.

Fortunately, today doubts have been completely dispelled, and the organic substance E330 is successfully used not only in the food industry and in everyday life, but even in cosmetology and medicine.

In medicine

The ability of the food additive E330 to improve energy metabolism has found practical application in the pharmaceutical industry.

Sodium citric acid(sodium citrate, official symbol E331) is a proven remedy for stabilizing blood reserves, as well as for the treatment of cystitis. The same drug is used in laboratory blood tests to determine the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR).

Traditional medicine recommends using a 30% solution of citric acid to gargle for sore throat. As an alternative method, you can use regular lemon; you just need to chew it slowly and swallow it with your head thrown back. The antioxidant and bactericidal properties of the acid will help speed up the healing process.

In cosmetology

Organic substance E330 is an essential ingredient in a huge number of cosmetic products.

One of the reasons for the popularity of the supplement- its ability to regulate the pH level in the product. Thus, in addition to the general improvement of the functional effect of cosmetics, a preservative effect is also achieved.

Important! According to regulations in certain countries, E330 may not be included in a product if it is used solely as a pH adjuster. Thus, when using our favorite cosmetics, we may have no idea that citric acid is present in it.

However, in cosmetology this acid also performs many other functions. It helps whiten the skin, expand its pores, and exfoliate dead epidermal cells. Being a natural component, the substance very rarely causes intolerance and other negative reactions. Antioxidant properties help ensure smoothing of wrinkles and an overall rejuvenation effect.

In detergents, E330 promotes better foaming, and in hair dyes it increases color saturation.

No less popular in cosmetology and various derivatives of citric acid, its salts and esters (diammonium citrates, etc.). Esters, due to the formation of a thin protective film on the skin, ensure the preservation of its moisture, due to which they are often added to moisturizing creams. But, for example, an ester such as tributyl citrate is used even in plastic surgery.

When combined with certain minerals, E330 also forms substances having an astringent effect(acne treatment, care for oily and combination skin), ensuring fixation of a cosmetic product when sprayed (hair sprays), preventing the formation of tartar (additives in toothpastes), regulating the acid-base balance, etc.

Acid has found equally widespread use in home beauty recipes. than in professional cosmetology. With its help, skin is cleansed, degreased and lightened, including from various age spots. Adding the substance to hand baths helps strengthen the nail plate and provides nourishment to the skin. In hair masks, acidic crystals are needed to add shine and silkiness (for this purpose, you can simply rinse your hair with water and lemon juice).

In dietetics

The use of citric acid for weight loss is usually motivated by its ability to burn fat. In fact, this is nothing more than a myth.

Important! Citric acid does not burn fat, but only speeds up metabolic processes.

However, the dietary supplement still has nutritional properties. By stimulating metabolism, accelerating blood flow and removing excess salt and liquid from the body, the substance improves the quality of the digestive system, and increasing the viscosity of saliva helps reduce appetite.

However, citric acid-based diets should be approached with great caution. because if used incorrectly it can:

• cause irritation of the mucous membranes of the throat and digestive system;
• lead to dehydration and drying out of the body;
• provoke the occurrence of ulcers and even cancer of the gastrointestinal tract.

At home

Acidic crystals are great for removing scale from dishes, which is why many housewives use this product to clean teapots and pots. A small amount of water is poured into the bottom of the container (the contaminated surface should be completely covered), then 30 g of acid is poured. The dishes are placed on the fire, the water is brought to a boil and drained. The bottom remains mirror clean, and all the scale goes away along with the water.

Important! If you add a little substance to a vase with water before placing a bouquet in it, cut flowers will remain fresh much longer: the acid will kill microbes, “preserve” the stems and additionally nourish them.

This product is also used for cleaning washing machines and irons.

Contraindications and harm

Like any other acid, the E330 additive is not completely harmless, however, the danger lies primarily in its misuse and overdose.

Initially, the mucous membranes suffer from the excess of the substance. Symptoms of an overdose of citric (as well as ascorbic) acid are:

• severe pain and cramps in the abdomen or stomach;
• cough;
• nausea and vomiting, sometimes with blood;
• diarrhea (in severe cases - with bloody spots);
• swelling;
• increased sweating;
• loss of appetite;
• increased fatigue;
• yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes;
• frequent urination;
• increase in body temperature;
• headache;
• increased blood pressure;
• change in emotional state from nervousness and anxiety to weakness and apathy.

Important! Theoretically, an overdose of citric acid can be fatal. Thus, a lethal dose of the drug for rats and mice is considered to be 6-7 g of the substance, and 20 g of the additive can kill an adult.

Long-term uncontrolled use of citric acid can, in addition, lead to the destruction of tooth enamel.

Even in moderate quantities, the additive can cause harm to people suffering from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract in the acute stage, it is especially dangerous when.

So, citric acid is an excellent helper in solving everyday problems, it is very widely used in cooking and cosmetology, and is also used in medicine and dietetics. To ensure that this substance does not cause harm, you just need to follow the usual precautions and avoid overdosing when using the supplement.