What is it? Did you think it came from limes or lemons, that ingredient you see on almost every label? Well, it can. But is that what is in your food? I wish it was. That sour flavor is not citrus, it is something far more sour to the palate and to the body.
Developed in 1917 when an American chemist discovered he could replicate the sour taste of citrus in a petri dish for a fraction of the cost as squeezing fresh fruit. The citric acid used in packaged food today has a sour nature of another kind. Think of a black mold, called Aspergillus niger. When this mold ferments on sugar beets or corn, the two biggest offenders of GMO foods, the sour tasting white power left behind touts itself as citric acid. There you have it, it tastes sour like lemon juice so it was conveniently named citric acid and quickly became one of the most popular additives in food and is evidently so strong in acidity that it keeps other molds at bay, acting as a preservative as well as a flavor enhancer.
While citric acid certainly sounds benign enough, continued consumption of it over a life time could potentially yield some very real complications aside from the fact that it has genetically modified organisms (GMOs). In some individuals, citric acid has been shown to cause heartburn and damage to the stomach’s mucous lining, Some European studies suggest it may promote tooth decay and over consumption might irritate the eyes, skin and respiratory organs. In my own case, it brings on a skin reaction in the way of eczema or psoriasis.
You won’t find any cautionary statements on any products containing citric acid in spite of the many lawsuits that have ensued over the years. The courts have thrown everyone one of them claiming there is not enough evidence to support damaging effects. Plaintiff concerns are disregarded. Proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that ill consequences were caused by citric acid is another issue altogether. For these consumers, there has been no apology for blatant misrepresentation. Marketing misleads the consumer as some products actually say they contain natural citric acid as opposed to synthetic, yet are still manufactured in a lab in the same manner and contain absolutely no citrus fruit of any kind.
While the complaints continue, for those that have suffered the consequences of citric acid. there is no need for scientific proof. For me, I discovered it through a process of elimination. I thought it was odd I could consume copious amounts of citrus fruit without a reaction yet anything with citric acid in the ingredient list I would be in pain for days, sometimes weeks.
With citric acid being an additive in almost every food imaginable, at least in those that have labels, there is tremendous profit from its wide spread use. Next time you are reading a label, unless it states in the ingredient list, pure lemon juice, you can bet ‘citric acid’ whether it says synthetic or natural is derived using black mold. After inquiring with multiple companies about the citric acid they use in their all natural organic products, their answers have been creative and evasive explaining that it is a proprietary method and they cannot reveal the process. After all, it is almost illogical to think that citric acid should come from anything else but citrus. Yet, some know it comes from sugar beets and others from corn, however the fermentation of mold seems to be a complete surprise even to distributors and product managers.
We don’t often question the ingredients in our food or our supplements. Perhaps we should? The FDA actually permits a certain amount of fecal matter in meat, insects in chocolate, chemicals and pesticides in organic fruits and vegetables and human DNA is found in many plant based burgers. It is the high cost of mass food production. If you have developed allergies to any foods, citric acid may be the culprit ingredient. Read ingredient labels closely and eat as close to nature as possible. Decide for yourself what you feel is good for your body. A little bit every day over a long time is a lot.
Sources:
http://girlmeetsnourishment.com
http://science.naturalnews.com
Disclaimer:
These statements have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Foods are not drugs and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
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