Ascorbic acid as food additive in food processing

Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is a widely used food additive with many functional roles, many of which are based upon its oxidation –reduction properties.

It is the naturally occurring L-ascorbic acid. It is freely soluble in water and sparingly soluble in ethanol.

Its functional roles include its uses as a nutritional food additive, antioxidant, browning inhibitor, reducing agent, flavor stabilizer, modifier and enhancer, color stabilizer, dough modifier and many other capacities.

Vitamin C structure

Ascorbic acid is used as an antimicrobial and antioxidant in foods. It is preferentially oxidized in place of other substrates and complements very well as a synergist to other antioxidants, such as BHA and BHT in polyphase food systems.

Ascorbic and its sodium and calcium salts are used as nutritive additives. Whenever there is a need to preserve the vitamin content in fortified foods, the D isomer of ascorbic acid, isoascorbate or eyrthrobate, is incorporated with ascorbic acid.

Ascorbic acid is very widely used in bread making, where it is present as a ‘flour improver’. In practice, this means that the addition of ascorbic acid improves the bread texture and the size of the resulting loaf, the dough has greater elasticity, increased gas retention, and improved water absorption.
Ascorbic acid as food additive in food processing