E380 – Triammonium Citrate
EmulsifierDescription
White crystalline powder or granules
Notes
Triammonium citrate is made by combining citric acid (the same natural acid found in lemons and limes) with ammonia. The process creates white, crystalline granules that look similar to salt or sugar. While citric acid can be extracted from citrus fruits, the citric acid used to make this additive is typically produced by fermenting sugars using a common, harmless mold called Aspergillus niger - the same process used to make citric acid for most food applications. This additive serves as an acidity regulator, which means it helps control and stabilize the pH levels in processed foods. By managing acidity, it helps preserve flavor, color, and texture in products. You'll find triammonium citrate in some processed cheeses, canned vegetables, and certain beverages where maintaining the right acid balance is crucial for both safety and taste. Triammonium citrate is synthetically produced but based on natural citric acid. It's suitable for vegetarians and vegans since no animal products are involved in its production. However, it does contain ammonia-derived nitrogen, so people following very strict natural food diets might prefer to avoid it. The additive is considered safe by food safety authorities, though it's used in relatively small quantities in the few products that contain it.