Allervibe
E296
Malic acid
The acid that gives apples their sharpness, used to add tartness and control pH.
i Additive Details
| Is E296 Malic acid safe?
Well tolerated at the levels used in food. Sour sweets carry enough malic acid to erode tooth enamel and to irritate the tongue and mouth when eaten in quantity. Because young infants metabolise the D-form found in synthetic DL-malic acid slowly, malic acid is not used in foods intended for infants and young children.
| Uses
Gives a strong, lingering sourness to fruit-flavoured sweets, sour candies, soft drinks, fruit fillings, jams, ciders and wines. It is also used in low-sugar and sugar-free products, where it masks the aftertaste of intense sweeteners, and as a pH regulator in canned fruit and vegetables.
| Interactions
Often blended with citric acid (E330) and tartaric acid (E334) to shape the sourness curve; malic acid tastes sour for longer than citric acid. Its acidity helps preservatives such as sorbates and benzoates work and assists pectin in setting jams. Its salts include sodium malate (E350) and calcium malate (E352).
| Origin
Occurs naturally in apples, pears, cherries, rhubarb and many other fruits. Commercial malic acid is almost always made synthetically by hydrating maleic or fumaric acid, which yields a mixture of the L- and D-forms (DL-malic acid); only the L-form occurs in fruit.
| Daily Intake
JECFA lists L-malic acid with 'ADI not limited'. No numerical ADI applies to ordinary food use in the EU either, but the D-form is the reason its use is restricted in foods for infants and young children.
Information is sourced from public regulatory bodies (EFSA, FDA, WHO) and is for reference only. Always read the package and consult a healthcare professional for medical advice.
Related additives
- E260 Acetic acid The acid that gives vinegar its sour taste, used to acidify and preserve food.
- E297 Fumaric acid A powdered organic acid with a strong, slow-dissolving sourness, used as an acidulant.
- E331 Trisodium citrate The sodium salt of citric acid, used to control acidity and to bind metal ions.
- E332 Potassium citrates The potassium salts of citric acid, used to regulate acidity and bind metal ions.
- E334 L(+)-tartaric acid The natural acid of grapes, used to add sourness and as the acid in baking powder.
- E575 Glucono-delta-lactone A mild acid formed from glucose that slowly turns into gluconic acid once it meets water.
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