Citric Acid Is In Your Body, Food, Skincare, and Medicine

2. Where It Comes From

Many people assume that the citric acid added to products derives from citrus fruits. However, extracting the component from fruit is prohibitively expensive and would not meet demand. About 99% of manufactured citric acid comes from fermenting sugar and the mold Aspergillus niger.

This has raised concern, as A. niger is a known allergen. Although the mold is removed during the manufacturing process, some researchers worry that residue remains. Studies suggest that manufactured citric acid could trigger inflammatory reactions in some individuals.