| ≥1 piece |
Citric acid is widely used in the food and pharmaceutical industries. In foods it is used primarily to produce a tart taste and to complement fruit flavors in carbonated beverages, beverage powders, fruit-flavored drinks, jams and jellies, candy, sherbets, water ices, and wine. It is also used to reduce pH in certain canned foods to make heat treatment more effective, and in conjunction with antioxidants to chelate trace metals and retard enzymatic activity.
In pharmaceuticals, citric acid provides the acid source in effervescent tablets in addition to being used to adjust pH, impart a tart taste, and chelate trace metals. It is also used as a blood anticoagulant.