There's a reason most people don't typically bite into a lemon -- it's high in citric acid, an acid that gives the foods you eat a very sour taste. While citric acid's chemical properties mean it has some industrial uses, it's also found naturally in a number of the foods you eat, and they aren't all citrus fruits.
Uses
Swedish chemist Carl Wilhelm Scheele first isolated citric acid in 1784. Since then, it's been added to a number of foods. Citric acid gives off a tart or sour taste when eaten, which makes it a good additive to a number of foods. Added citric acid gives your lemon-lime soft drink a crisp taste or a piece of lemon candy a mouth-puckering effect. Its acid presence also makes it a good meat preserver.
Foods That Naturally Contain Citric Acid
Although you may eat some foods that have citric acid added to them for flavor, others naturally have citric acid. Those with the highest proportion are lemons and limes -- these contain up to 8 percent citric acid. Oranges, grapefruits and other citrus fruits also contain citric acid naturally. Other citric acid-containing fruits include strawberries, cranberries, currants, pineapples and cherries. Some foods have citric acid because it is created during fermentation -- examples include wine and sourdough breads. Some vegetables also contain citric acid, including tomatoes, cayenne peppers, lettuce and Jerusalem artichokes.
Foods That Have Added Citric Acid
You can find added citric acid in a number of foods, including canned tomatoes and fruits, because the citric acid helps to add stability in canned foods. Sweets like sherbet with fruit flavors like oranges, lemons and limes also contain citric acid. Lemon juice also is added to mayonnaise as a preservative, so it contains citric acid as well. The acid also is added to ice creams to act as an emulsifier to keep fats separated.
Safety
Although the name "acid" may sound hazardous, citric acid in your foods will rarely do more than make your mouth pucker when you eat it. However, it is possible to have a citric acid allergy or citric acid intolerance. Intolerance occurs when your body lacks an enzyme that helps you break down the chemicals in citric acid. This can result in painful symptoms like bloating, stomach cramps, diarrhea and gas. This is different from a citric acid allergy, where the foods you eat cause an immediate reaction, like difficulty breathing or tingling or swelling in your mouth. If you observe adverse symptoms after eating foods that contain citric acid, notify your physician.
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