In ingredient lists, does "lime" mean the fruit or the chemical?

Ingredient lists on packaged foods sometimes list "lime". Does this refer to the citrus fruit, or to the chemical calcium hydroxide?

As an example, Mission Organics White Corn Tortilla Chips list "trace of lime" as the last ingredient. This could indicate some part (or juice) of the citrus fruit, included as a seasoning (common in Mexican cuisine). On the other hand, there is a process for preparing corn (maize in some dialects) which involves cooking it in a calcium hydroxide solution. So if these chips are made using this process, "trace of lime" could refer to calcium hydroxide residues. Which is meant?

Best Answer

Calcium hydroxide is pretty much insoluble, so it's hard to get every last bit of it out after nixtamalizing. A trace always remains. If the maker were selling lime flavored tortilla chips, which are sold the ingredient list would say something like "lime extract" or "natural lime flavor".

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What does flavors mean in ingredients?

Flavors are complex mixtures that sometimes comprise more than 100 chemicals. In addition to flavors themselves, these mixtures contain chemicals that have other functions. Solvents, emulsifiers, flavor modifiers and preservatives often make up 80 to 90 percent of the mixture.

Is MSG considered a natural flavor?

MSG occurs naturally in some foods, including tomatoes and cheeses, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. But it's also produced synthetically and added to packaged or prepared foods as a flavor enhancer. As far as foods label goes, however, MSG won't be listed as natural or artificial flavors.

What is natural flavor when listed as an ingredient?

The term natural flavor or natural flavoring is defined by the FDA as a substance extracted, distilled, or similarly derived from natural sources like plants (fruits, herbs, veggies, barks, roots, etc.) or animals (meat, dairy products, eggs, etc.)

What is the difference between natural flavoring and artificial flavoring?

While chemists make natural flavors by extracting chemicals from natural ingredients, artificial flavors are made by creating the same chemicals synthetically.

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