Citric Acid
Preservative
Citric acid is a natural preservative found in many fruits, like lemons and oranges. It helps keep food fresh by preventing the growth of bacteria and mold.
Source: FDA GRAS list
Citric acid is generally considered safe for consumption in small amounts, but excessive consumption may cause stomach upset.

What Is Citric Acid
acooknamedMatt
r/DIYBeauty
Update on "I've been experimenting making my own hair...gel that happens to have a lot of citric acid in it. It holds the hair in place and has other ingredients in it too. Will the citric acid damage the hair at all?"
Pectin-rich purple passion fruit mesocarp/agarose: film properties and impact of coatings on banana preservation.
Pham-Tran BT, Nguyen NT, Nguyen NQ
2026
Read on PubMedRelated Ingredients
Last updated: May 16, 2026