Acidulants are acids used in processed foods to control acidity and enhance functions. They act as preservatives by restricting microbial growth, flavoring agents by contributing taste, and coagulants by reducing pH to curdle milk for cheese. Common acidulants include citric acid, lactic acid, phosphoric acid, acetic acid, and tartaric acid. Selection of an acidulant depends on factors like flavor profile, pH, solubility, and hygroscopicity for the specific food application.
Acidulants are acids used in processed foods to control acidity and enhance functions. They act as preservatives by restricting microbial growth, flavoring agents by contributing taste, and coagulants by reducing pH to curdle milk for cheese. Common acidulants include citric acid, lactic acid, phosphoric acid, acetic acid, and tartaric acid. Selection of an acidulant depends on factors like flavor profile, pH, solubility, and hygroscopicity for the specific food application.
Acidulants are acids used in processed foods to control acidity and enhance functions. They act as preservatives by restricting microbial growth, flavoring agents by contributing taste, and coagulants by reducing pH to curdle milk for cheese. Common acidulants include citric acid, lactic acid, phosphoric acid, acetic acid, and tartaric acid. Selection of an acidulant depends on factors like flavor profile, pH, solubility, and hygroscopicity for the specific food application.
Acidulants are acids used in processed foods to control acidity and enhance functions. They act as preservatives by restricting microbial growth, flavoring agents by contributing taste, and coagulants by reducing pH to curdle milk for cheese. Common acidulants include citric acid, lactic acid, phosphoric acid, acetic acid, and tartaric acid. Selection of an acidulant depends on factors like flavor profile, pH, solubility, and hygroscopicity for the specific food application.
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ACIDULANTS
Acidulants are acids used in processed foods for a variety of
functions that enhance the food. Acids are used as: • Flavoring agent—Contributes and enhances flavor in carbonated beverages, fruit drinks, and desserts. • Preservative—An acid medium restricts the growth of spoilage organisms in mayonnaise and tomato sauce, and retards the activity of enzymes involved in discoloration in fruits. • Chelating agent—Aids in binding metals that can cause oxidation in fats and oils, and discoloration in canned shrimp. • Buffer—Maintains and controls acidity during processing, and maintains acidity within a given range in prepared desserts. • Gelling agent—Controls the gelling mechanism of algin and pectin gels such as desserts and jams. • Coagulating agent—Reduction of pH results in coagulation of milk protein which is used in the preparation of direct acidified cheese and desserts. ACIDULANTS Acidulants are acidity regulators Main aim is to control acidity / alkalinity Functions pH control agent Preservative Chelating agent Flavouring agent Coagulating agent Fortification PHOSPHORIC ACID (E338) ORTHOPHOSPHORIC ACID ALKALINE SALT OF ACIDULANT ONLY INORGANIC ACID- USED AS FOOD ACIDULANT USED- PROCESSED/ PASTEURIZED CHEESE PRODUCES ALKALINE pH- NECESSARY FOR PROTEIN DISPERSION REACTS WITH PROTEIN- IMPROVE EMULSIFICATION AND WATER BINDING CAPACITIES PHOSPHORIC ACID (E338) Manufacturing Reducing phosphate rock to elementary phosphorus in blast furnance Treating phosphorus rock with sulphuric acid Foods to be added (mg/kg) Butter (880), cheese (6600), soft drinks, fruit juices (1000),fruit nectars (4400), powdered sugars (8800) ACETIC ACID (E260) USES PRESERVATIVE STERLIZINGAGENT- RETARDS THE GROWTH OF MICROORGANISMS BY REDUCING pH ANTI BROWNING- ENZYMATIC/ NON ENZYMATIC BROWNING Foods to be added (GMP) Vinegar, canned foods, salad dressings TRICALCIUM CITRATE (E333III) Uses Chelating agent- prevents enzymatic browning Antioxidant synergist (ascorbates, BHA, BHT)- by lowering the redox potential sequestering metal ions Foods to be added (GMP) Ice creams, wine, jams, evaporated and condensed milk, milk powders, processed cheese TARTARIC ACID (E334) Used as flavouring agent Highly water soluble Tart taste Used to over mask the sweetness Used in grape/ lime flavoured beverages Manufactured from waste products of wine industry Foods to be added (4000 mg/kg) Wine , chocolate products, jams, fruit nectar, fruit juice CITRIC ACID (E330) Used as nutrient enhancer Acts synergistically with ascorbic acid Highly soluble in water Extracted from pineapple waste Foods to be added (mg/kg) Fruit juices (3000), nectars (5000), candies and jams ADIPIC ACID (E355) Use viscosity and melting modifier Leavening acidulant in baking powder Improves the texture of cheese spreads Produced commercially by nitric oxide oxidation of cyclohexanol Foods to be added Processed cheese, baking powders, edible oils, Meringue SELECTION Acidulant selection depends upon the application or processed food. The properties to consider are : flavor profile, pH, solubility rate, solubility, hygroscopicity. Flavor profile refers to the perceived sharpness or blandness contributed by the acid. Tartaric and citric acids provide a sharp taste as compared to lactic acid, which provides a blander taste. Fumaric acid and tartaric acid provide the greatest degree of sourness. Comparing acids relative to similarity of taste to citric acid, the relative equivalents are citric acid: 100; fumaric acid: 55; tartaric acid: 70; malic acid: 75; succinic acid: 87; lactic acid: 107; and glucono-delta-lactone: 310. The acids provide different pHs at similar concentrations, falling generally in the range of pH 2–3 at 1% concentration. SELECTION CONTD… • The solubility rate determines how rapidly the acid dissolves and contributes toward the flavor profile. In a beverage powder dissolved in cold water, rapid solubility is required, so citric acid would be used. • The solubility of the acid refers to the quantity in solution. Cream of tartar and fumaric acid have low solubilities, which makes them suitable for bakery applications in controlling leavening systems. Phosphoric acid, a liquid, is miscible with water and used in beverage syrups. • Hygroscopic acids will absorb moisture, and hygroscopicity needs to be considered when the application is dry mixes. If hygroscopic acids, such as citric or tartaric acids, are used in dry mixes, proper packaging is essential. • Alternative less hygroscopic acids are adipic and fumaric acid. THANK YOU