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Why is Malic acid used in food

May 13，2024

Description

Malic acid (MA) is an organic compound also known by the names "apple acid" and "fruit acid," and it is contained in many prepared foods. This compound is found naturally in apples, particularly in the skin and other fruits. It is a so-called alpha-hydroxy organic acid in many plant and animal species. This intermediate is the critical element of the primary cellular energy production cycle, the Krebs cycle (also known as the citric acid cycle). The chemical formula is shown below:
HOOC–CH(OH)–CH2–COOH.

The molecular formula for malic acid is C4H6O5. The iupac name of MA is 2-hydroxybutanedioic acid. As an optically active compound, this acid is classified into L-malic acid (left-handed form, found in fruits) and D-malic acid (right-handed form, does not occur in nature).

Uses

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MA is used in cosmetics, such as self-tanning creams, cleansing forms, and facial creams, to adjust pH. Potentially, it can be used for metal cleaning, textile finishing, water treatment, fabric dying, and as a monomer for the synthesis of poly(β-l-malic acid).

Malic acid is often present in the food's label, but it is not dangerous or toxic to human health. Its purpose is to increase food acidity, giving more flavor, but it is also used as a flavoring substance and color stabilizer. It is identified with the acronym E296. This acidifying compound is widely used in the food industry and is generally obtained through chemical synthesis. It is normally found in fruit juices - mostly grape or apple - and in jellies, spreadable fruit, jams, wine, and some low-calorie foods. In nature, malic acid is contained in foods such as prunes, currants, tomatoes, and even bananas in small quantities. This fruit acid is closely related to acid, and a sour, bitter, strong, penetrating taste characterizes it.

Safety

Regarding safety, we should remember that the malic acid in food can irritate the eyes and skin, but it does not cause damage to health. On this point, Europe has not defined the reference values for the daily quantity ingested.

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