E513 – Sulfuric acid
Acidity regulatorDescription
A strong, corrosive mineral acid used as a pH regulator and processing aid
Notes
Sulphuric acid is a powerful mineral acid that occurs naturally in volcanic springs and can also be made industrially by combining sulfur, oxygen, and water through chemical processes. Despite its intimidating name and corrosive nature in concentrated form, it's used in extremely diluted amounts in food processing. The version used in food is highly diluted and carefully controlled. In food production, sulphuric acid serves as a pH regulator, helping to control acidity levels during manufacturing processes. It's primarily used as a processing aid rather than a direct food ingredient, meaning it helps facilitate food production but isn't necessarily present in the final product. You might find it used in sugar refining, starch processing, and in the production of certain food-grade chemicals. This is a synthetic processing aid that's suitable for vegetarian and vegan diets, as it contains no animal-derived ingredients. It's heavily regulated and only permitted in very specific applications and concentrations. The amounts used are so minimal that they pose no safety concerns to consumers when used according to regulations, and most traces are removed during processing.