Acetic acid has uses across industries, but its most common affiliation is with food preservation. According to the New York Food Museum, archaeologists uncovered pickled foods in Mesopotamia from 4400 years ago! Modern pickling with acetic acid has not changed drastically in that amount of time, although several other uses for acetic acid in the food industry have been discovered. Bell Chem, your food ingredient supplier, has a number of uses for acetic acid in food production and manufacture.

Food preservation with acetic acid helps preserve canned goods, but it also does so much more. Many products contain this important ingredient not only for its flavor, but because of its ability to stop the growth of bacteria. Acetic acid is often added to salad dressings, sauces, cheeses, and pickled products. Combined with baking soda, acetic acid acts as a leavening agent in breads and other baked goods. Baking soda on its own will not stimulate the formation of aerated bubbles. When combined with acetic acid, bread rises and cakes take on a spongier texture.

Here are some specific examples of the use of acetic acid in food production:

• Salt and vinegar chips are, more precisely, salt and acetic acid chips. Vinegar is 4% acetic acid at a minimum, and the pungent odor and distinctly sour flavor of salt and vinegar chips prove the popularity of acetic acid as a flavor enhancer.

• Sushi and other “raw” meats are safer to consume if marinated in diluted acetic acid since it controls Salmonella contamination. The acid denatures proteins, breaking them apart and restructuring the proteins into new formations that coagulate the proteins without using heat to cook the meat. This same coagulation occurs with pickled eggs.

• Diluted acetic acid transforms the colors of many fruits and vegetables. Dark green vegetables become olive in appearance, red fruits and vegetables become more vibrant, and acetic acid preserves the white flesh of apples and potatoes when they are freshly cut.

Learn more about your food additives by reaching out to Bell Chem. Bell Chem is a food ingredient supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse, including acetic acid. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.