Why don't some Italian tomato sauces and pastes use citric acid?
I bought tomato paste that came from Italy that just contains tomatoes and no citric acid. Another jar of tomato passata also only contained tomatoes. Are Italian tomatoes more acidic or is there a reason that they don't seem to use citric acid? I would be more comfortable knowing the ph is at the right level for food safety reasons but perhaps it is?
Best Answer
Citric acid is added when the PH of the overall product is too high. Most of the time a product with pure tomatoes doesn't need any help with PH as the tomatoes should be acidic enough, when you see citric acid added you will usually see water added as well in some form. Water is added to bulk up the product and make it cheaper, some companies add tomato juice instead of water as it looks better on the labeling , but at the end of the day tomato juice is just flavored water. Water increases the overall PH level, so you have to bring it back up.
When you don't see citric acid in a can of tomatoes or a tomato product it's usually a sign that they are really good quality.
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Quick Answer about "Why don't some Italian tomato sauces and pastes use citric acid?"
Citric acid is added when the PH of the overall product is too high. Most of the time a product with pure tomatoes doesn't need any help with PH as the tomatoes should be acidic enough, when you see citric acid added you will usually see water added as well in some form.Does all tomato sauce have citric acid?
You're not likely to find pasta sauce or canned tomatoes without citric acid as its naturally found in tomatoes and used as a preservative. Tomatoes are considered to be a fruit since they have seeds and fruit does naturally contain citric acid.Do you need citric acid to can tomato sauce?
To ensure safe acidity in whole, crushed or juiced tomatoes, add lemon juice or citric acid when processing in a boiling water bath. Add 2 tablespoons of bottled lemon juice or 1/2 teaspoon of citric acid per quart of tomatoes. For pints, use 1 tablespoon bottled lemon juice or 1/4 teaspoon citric acid.Does tomato paste have citric acid?
Citric acid is used in tomato paste as a preservative. Tomatoes can be preserved by canning, drying, freezing or pickling, and when foods are canned at home, safety depends primarily on the amount of acid in the product.Do you need to add citric acid to spaghetti sauce?
Because many varieties of tomatoes are not high enough in natural acids, you should add citric acid or lemon juice to the sauce, as directed above.Why Don't We - Fallin' (Adrenaline) [Official Music Video]
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Answer 2
E330 - commonly named on a labels as citric acid to not scare consumers - is an antioxidant. In tomato sauce I would say it's used to stop it from browning (and as a mild conservative).
The difference beetwen European and North American is just a shelf life of sauce. Both on shelf in store and at home.
Answer 3
The citric acid in your tomato cans is insurance to cover the cost cutting and arguably lower standards without getting customers sick.
I'm american, but have traveled. Factory conditions in North America are not the same as in Europe. They are dirtier and more "cost efficient". Therefore american companies will take extra measures to ensure safety that traditional European methods and practices naturally provide.
For example, US eggs are laid in (relatively) filthy and overcrowded cages, so they get feces and food bits all over them right away. These eggs must be washed, which removes the natural mucus layer that protects the egg. This means US eggs need refrigerated, while European ones do not. Technically, the US eggs are "cleaner", but the back story is telling.
American tomato puree likely has fruit from the ground, over-ripe fruit, fruit where rotten sections are (hopefully) removed, etc. They then use chemicals and physical processes (microwave, UV, pasteurization, etc) to make sure these potentially dangerous supplies don't result in sickness. Taste suffers, but the costs can be lower.
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