Ingredient · Additive
Ascorbic Acid
Vitamin C, added both as a nutrient and as an antioxidant that stops fats and colours from oxidising. A good example of a chemical-sounding name that describes something entirely unremarkable.
also known as Vitamin C, L-ascorbic acid, E300
Ascorbic acid is the same molecule as the vitamin C in an orange, whether it was fermented from glucose or extracted from fruit. The body cannot tell the difference.
It is worth knowing because it is the clearest case against reading labels by vocabulary. "Ascorbic acid" sounds synthetic and is harmless; "natural flavours" sounds reassuring and tells you almost nothing about what is in the product.
Why it’s classified this way
Classified Safe: identical to dietary vitamin C, with no intake concern at food-additive levels.
References
- FDA GRAS listing
- EFSA re-evaluation of E300