International Numbering System (INS) for Food Additives: 334
Food additives Europe numbers: E334
Functional Category
Acidifying agent; flavoring agent; sequestering agent.
Applications in Pharmaceutical Formulation
Tartaric acid is used in beverages, confectionery, food products, and pharmaceutical formulations as an acidulant. It may also be used as a sequestering agent and as an antioxidant synergist. In pharmaceutical formulations, it is widely used in combination with bicarbonates, as the acid component of effervescent granules, powders, and tablets. Tartaric acid is also used to form molecular compounds (salts and cocrystals) with active pharmaceutical ingredients to improve physicochemical properties such as dissolution rate and solubility.(1,2)
Description
Tartaric acid occurs as colorless monoclinic crystals, or a white or almost white crystalline powder. It is odorless, with an extremely tart taste.
Stability and Storage Conditions
The bulk material is stable and should be stored in a well-closed container in a cool, dry place
Incompatibilities
Tartaric acid is incompatible with silver and reacts with metal carbonates and bicarbonates (a property exploited in effervescent preparations).
Safety
Tartaric acid is widely used in food products and oral, topical, and parenteral pharmaceutical formulations. It is generally regarded as a nontoxic and nonirritant material; however, strong tartaric acid solutions are mildly irritant and if ingested undiluted may cause gastroenteritis. An acceptable daily intake for L-(þ)-tartaric acid has not been set by the WHO, although an acceptable daily intake of up to 30 mg/kg body-weight for monosodium L-(þ)-tartrate has been established.(3) LD50 (mouse, IV): 0.49 g/kg(4)