Is all citric acid the same

[Dave.T]

Hello, is Wilko citric acid priced at £1.75 for 250g just the same as the more expensive citric acid found in the brewing section. I'm sure someone on here will know if it is all food safe.

[MashBag]

I would have thought so IF ITS PURE citric acid... and doesn't have other additives (like a surfactant of its being sold as a cleaner).

Check the ingredients.

[MashBag]

OK looks like citric acid to me..

Screenshot_20220701-080623_Brave.jpg (752.8 KiB) Viewed 13066 times

[Dave.T]

As Mashbag's picture of the box just citric acid on the ingredients, also looks identical to any that i have bought from brewing suppliers but much cheaper.
Worth an ask though as it is sold in the cleaning section next to the washing powders.

[Jim]

Maybe the difference is whether or not it's food grade. For cleaning it wouldn't have to be.

[MashBag]

"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)7 states that citric acid is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) as a direct food additive.

Since the early 1900’s, approximately 99 percent8 of the world’s production of manufactured citric acid has been developed from black mold (the Aspergillus niger fungus). Black mold efficiently converts sugars into citric acid. Its fermentation is also generally recognized as safe by the FDA under its Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act."

from. https://www.chemicalsafetyfacts.org/

[Jocky]

It’s not so much the question of the citric acid itself, but how it’s then been handled up to packaging to ensure it’s not picked up any contaminants (bacteria, oil etc).

As you’re putting it into a fairly alcoholic environment I’d say the risk is low, but then so is the saving.

[Marshbrewer]

You can get specified food grade citric acid on Amazon for £2.80 including postage for 250g. I think I'd be tempted to go for that.

[MashBag]

I can see your thinking (both)

But do you really have any more security because it says "food safe" on the label? Especially bought online?

Let us not forget the secret in the name "citric ACID" not to many bugs going to grow in it. Innit

Contaminants. I agree. I had some dried beans from amazon with a stone in.

Buyer beware. All that glitters is.... Erm... Probably some twat with an LED torch.

[Jim]

I would guess that food grade certification is all about the conditions in which the stuff is handled before it gets into the final packaging.

Where food is handled operators have to wear hairnets/snoods etc to stop hairs, dandruff and other bodily emanations from getting into the product. I dare say high purity chemicals would be treated in the same way, but maybe not for something that's only to be used for cleaning.

[WallyBrew]

EU reg on food additives
Whilst we may have left the EU the above regulation is probably still in force and probably exists as a Statutory Instrument.

It can be downloaded or head to the bottom of the page just past "Publication details" and "view more" the document is viewable and can be searched. Just enter 330 in the box at the far right at the top and it will go to citric acid.

[MashBag]

Read it. How does this help? Am I missing something?

I suppose my point is, you will never know how it's been handled. Whatever grade it is.
You will never get an absolute answer.
The odds are in your favour with a professional company rather than some nurk with some scales online.

And let's not get into liability laws

[WallyBrew]

Read it. How does this help? Am I missing something?

It answers the question of what is food grade. If it complies with that then it is food grade irrespective of how it has been handled. Problem is that it is unlikely that any of that will be listed on the packaging and the supplier probably cannot supply the information either.

[alexlark]

I had 1kg off ebay for a good price: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/401647051460

[ben034]

Amazon also have 2kg for £13. I've used the Amazon stuff before for passivating
stainless steel.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B06XKL ... asin_title