What is Citic Acid??

Citric acid is naturally found in citrus fruits, such as limes and lemons. It provides that sour, tart taste. The manufactured form of citric acid (MCA) is derived from Aspergillus niger, a form of black mold, and is a food additive. This manufactured form is used as a food additive in candies, drinks, and as a preserving agent. Because using citrus fruits from citric acid is too expensive, the use of mold is used because it is cheaper and can meet the demands. 

Food

The food industry uses this manufacturing form to enhance flavours, as a preservative, and to boost acidity. Juices, sodas, frozen foods, and dairy products contain citric acids. 

Supplements

A lot of supplements also contain citric acid as a preservative. Many magnesium or calcium supplements contain MCS to enhance absorption

Why is this an issue?

While natural citric acid from fruits is perfectly fine, manufactured citric acid has been shown to negatively impact health. One study found that citric acid worsens ADHD symptoms in adults. This leads to a worsening of cognitive abilities such as focus. MCA also leads to an increase in inflammation in the body, worsening hormonal conditions such as endometriosis, PCOS, hypothyroidism, and hyperthyroidism. MCA can also worsen existing inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, celiac disease, muscle pain, and fatigue.

What to do?

Aim for foods, beverages, and supplements that do not contain MCA. Learn to read the labels before buying products to be able to see if MCA is an ingredient. 

Resources:

Sweis, I. E., & Cressey, B. C. (2018). Potential role of the common food additive manufactured citric acid in eliciting significant inflammatory reactions contributing to serious disease states: A series of four case reports. Toxicology reports, 5, 808–812. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxrep.2018.08.002