Back to catalogSafety
E334AcidulantLow concern
Tartaric Acid
In plain words
The short version
A natural fruit acid from grapes — central to wine chemistry and a common acidulant.
Why it's green
It's widely considered safe at the amounts used in food, so we mark it green. The Safety section below has the details.
Safety profile
EFSA (2020) set a group ADI of 240 mg/kg body weight per day for L(+)-tartaric acid and its tartrate salts, expressed as tartaric acid. JECFA's group ADI is 0–30 mg/kg body weight. Generally well-tolerated. High doses can be laxative due to incomplete absorption. The L-(+)-isomer is the natural and approved form.
The detail
First isolated by Carl Wilhelm Scheele in 1769 from grape lees (the sediment in wine fermentation), giving the compound its name. Today produced primarily from wine-industry by-products (calcium tartrate precipitation) and partially by synthesis from maleic acid.
Sharper-tasting than citric acid, used in wine (adjusting must acidity), jellies, soft drinks, hard candies, effervescent tablets, and baking powders (paired with bicarbonate for fast leavening). Typical use levels 0.1% to 1%.
Colorless crystals or white powder, very soluble in water. Strong organic acid (pKa1 = 3.04, pKa2 = 4.37). Hygroscopic at high humidity. Chelates calcium and other metal ions.
Permitted globally. EU and US: the L-(+)-form only; the racemic DL and meso forms have separate, restricted statuses.
Sources
- EFSA — Re-evaluation of L(+)-tartaric acid (E 334), sodium tartrates (E 335), potassium tartrates (E 336), potassium sodium tartrate (E 337) and calcium tartrate (E 354) as food additives (EFSA Journal 2020;18(3):6030) — European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), FAF Panel, 2020. Safety: current EU group ADI (240 mg/kg bw/day)
- WHO JECFA database — L(+)-Tartaric acid (INS 334) — Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), 2017. Safety: JECFA group ADI 0–30 mg/kg bw
- WHO JECFA database — DL-Tartaric acid — Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), 1977. Regulation: racemic DL form has a separate status
- 21 CFR 184.1099 — Tartaric acid (GRAS), eCFR — U.S. FDA / eCFR (Office of the Federal Register), 1985. Regulation: US permits the L(+) form, GRAS at GMP levels
Checked against these sources on .
Educational information only. Not medical, dietary or veterinary advice. Spotted an error? Tell us.