Ascorbic Acid - Food Chemistry

Food Chemistry

Ascorbic acid and its sodium, potassium, and calcium salts are commonly used as antioxidant food additives. These compounds are water-soluble and thus cannot protect fats from oxidation: For this purpose, the fat-soluble esters of ascorbic acid with long-chain fatty acids (ascorbyl palmitate or ascorbyl stearate) can be used as food antioxidants. Eighty percent of the world's supply of ascorbic acid is produced in China.

The relevant European food additive E numbers are

1. E300 ascorbic acid (approved for use as a food additive in the EU, USA and Australia and New Zealand)
2. E301 sodium ascorbate(approved for use as a food additive in the EU, USA and Australia and New Zealand)
3. E302 calcium ascorbate(approved for use as a food additive in the EU, USA and Australia and New Zealand)
4. E303 potassium ascorbate
5. E304 fatty acid esters of ascorbic acid (i) ascorbyl palmitate (ii) ascorbyl stearate.

It creates volatile compounds when mixed with glucose and amino acids in 90 Celsius.

It is a cofactor in tyrosine oxidation.