What E330 actually is
Citric acid is the most widely used food acid in the world. It provides sourness, controls pH so preservatives work, stops fruit browning, and chelates metal ions that would otherwise cause off-flavours. It occurs naturally in citrus fruit, which is where it was first isolated and where the name comes from.
What it is made from
Commercial citric acid is produced by fermenting sugar, usually from corn, molasses, or cassava, with the mould Aspergillus niger. Extraction from lemons stopped being economic in the 1920s. This surprises people, but it is the same relationship as vinegar being fermented rather than extracted.
Vegan, vegetarian, and halal status
Citric acid is vegan, vegetarian, halal, and kosher. The only occasional flag raised is that the fermentation medium may be corn-derived, which matters to a very small number of people with corn sensitivity, and that the mould is a fungus, which raises no dietary issue.
Is E330 safe?
Citric acid is one of the safest additives in the food supply. No acceptable daily intake has been set anywhere, because it is a normal part of human metabolism. Every cell in your body runs the citric acid cycle continuously. It is permitted in infant formula and in organic food.
- No established health concerns
- It is an acid, so heavy consumption of acidic drinks contributes to dental enamel erosion
- A normal metabolite in human cells, so no intake limit is set
Where regulators stand
- EFSA (EU)
- Acceptable daily intake not specified, the category reserved for substances of very low concern.
- FDA (US)
- Generally recognized as safe.
Foods it turns up in
- Soft drinks, squash, and fruit juice
- Sweets and jam
- Tinned vegetables and fruit
- Sauces and ready meals
- Cleaning products and cosmetics
Names it hides behind
- E330
- Citric acid
- Acidity regulator (E330)
- Antioxidant (citric acid)
- E331 sodium citrate and E333 calcium citrate are the related salts
Common questions
- Is citric acid made from lemons?
- No, not commercially. It is made by fermenting sugars with the mould Aspergillus niger. Extraction from citrus stopped being economic about a century ago.
- Is citric acid vegan and halal?
- Yes. The fermentation uses a mould and a plant sugar source, with nothing animal-derived at any stage.
- Is citric acid bad for your teeth?
- Acidic drinks contribute to enamel erosion over time, and citric acid is one of the acids involved. That is about the drink, not the additive specifically.
- Is citric acid natural?
- It occurs naturally in citrus, and the commercial version is produced by fermentation rather than synthesis, so it is generally accepted as natural. It is permitted in organic food.
- What is the difference between citric acid and sodium citrate?
- Sodium citrate (E331) is the salt of citric acid. It buffers pH rather than adding sourness, and it is what makes processed cheese melt smoothly.
Checking a real pack
This page answers the code. The pack in your hand is what decides, because the same code can come from different sources depending on the manufacturer. LabelWise, formerly SafeChoice, scans the label and explains what is in front of you.
LabelWise content is educational and describes how additives are made, regulated, and labelled. It is not medical, dietary, or religious advice. For certification questions, the mark on the pack and the certifying body are the authority.