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Home/ Products & Services/Food & Beverage/North America Food & Beverage Products/Acidulants / Citrates
Food & Beverage - North America Food & Beverage Products
  • Acidulants
    • Citric Acid
    • Citrates
    • Contact Us

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Using proprietary insights, our global technology capabilities and vast ingredient portfolio, we help customers differentiate their brands and create unique solutions that fill product pipelines and reduce time to market.

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Citrates

Citrates

From the refreshing tartness of a citrus beverage, to the smooth, even melting of cheese, to the just-trimmed appearance of fresh meat, a wide range of foods and beverages rely on label-friendly citrates for flavor and freshness. 

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Citrates are exceptionally versatile ingredients, contributing flavor, functionality and stability to a full menu of products. Sodium citrate and potassium citrate are salts found in nature.   Cargill research shows that citric acid has a positive net health perception and purchase influence.* 

Label-friendly, cost-effective alternatives to more chemical-sounding ingredients  
Naturally occurring in citrus fruits but produced more sustainably via fermentation 
Added functionality: Shelf life, manage pH, mask bitterness, highly bioavailable** 

 

Cargill's well-established acidulant plants in Iowa and Brazil offer a reliable supply of high-quality citrate ingredients, backed by best-in-class lead times and a steadfast reputation for product safety, consistency, and traceability. 

Cargill Citrate Salts

Each product is considered "GRAS" (Generally Recognized as Safe) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. These products may be used in food with no limitations other than current good manufacturing practice.

  • Sodium Citrate
  • Potassium Citrate

Sodium citrate is a salt produced by neutralizing citric acid. It is alkaline and odorless, with a slight saline taste. Cargill’s sodium citrate appears as translucent, white crystals and is available in granular and fine-granular particles. 

  • Buffering agent that helps manage pH  
  • Preservative to maintain product quality, stability 
  • Emulsifying properties aid blending, melting 
  • Minimizes bitter aftertastes, smooths out flavor 
  • Supports rehydration as a source of electrolytes 

Versatile Applications 

Bakery 
Beverages 
Confectionery 
Convenience 
Dairy 
Infant Nutrition 
Jams/Jellies 
Meats 
Nutritional Supplements 
Sauces/Seasonings 
Snacks/Cereals

Potassium citrate is the potassium salt of citric acid. It is alkaline and odorless, with a slight saline taste. Cargill potassium citrate appears as white, granular crystals. 

  • Buffering agent that helps manage pH  
  • Preservative to maintain product quality, stability 
  • Emulsifying properties aid blending, melting 
  • Minimizes bitter aftertastes, smooths out flavor 
  • Contributes potassium mineral to formulations  
  • Supports formulation of reduced-sodium products 
  • Supports hydration as a source of electrolytes 

Versatile Applications 

Bakery 
Beverages 
Confectionery 
Convenience 
Dairy 
Infant Nutrition 
Jams/Jellies 
Meats 
Nutritional Supplements 
Sauces/Seasonings 
Snacks/Cereals

Acidulants Ingredient Certifications

Acidulants Ingredient Certifications | Food Ingredient Solutions | Cargill

Included in the chart are the acidulants ingredient certifications along with the monograph specifications.

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Citric Acid & Citrate Salts: Supplement Applications

Citric Acid & Citric Salts | Food Ingredient Solutions | Cargill

Cargill nature-derived citric acid and its salts, sodium citrate and potassium citrate, are familiar ingredients that combine label-friendly acceptance with robust functionality.

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Appealing tartness, lasting freshness

Acidulants Ingredient Supplier | Cargill Food and Beverage Ingredients

Citric acid occurs in citrus fruits like lemons, limes and oranges. Today, it is produced cost-effectively for food processing needs via fermentation. 

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* Cargill IngredienTracker™ research, 2023. 
** Compared to alternative ingredients. 

 

Some Cargill products are only approved for use in certain geographies, end uses, and/or at certain usage levels. It is the customer's responsibility to determine, for a particular geography, that (i) the Cargill product, its use and usage levels, (ii) the customer's product and its use, and (iii) any claims made about the customer's product, all comply with applicable laws and regulations.

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