Malic acid
Malic acid (E296) is the sharp-tasting acid that occurs naturally in apples, used industrially to regulate acidity and sharpen flavour in sweets, drinks and fruit products. EFSA classes it as safe and set no numerical acceptable daily intake for it.
Malic acid is a dicarboxylic acid found in apples, cherries and many other fruits, and is part of the citric-acid cycle by which the body releases energy. The food additive is produced synthetically rather than extracted from fruit.
It is authorised in the EU under Regulation 1333/2008 with no numerical acceptable daily intake, the classification EFSA uses for substances where a limit is not judged necessary. Its use is restricted in foods intended for infants and young children.
On the label
- E-number
- E296
- INS number
- INS 296
- Functional class
- Acidity regulator
- Also known as
- Food acid 296 · Acidity regulator 296 · INS 296 · Apple acid
Frequently asked questions
Yes — it contains no animal-derived material. It is manufactured synthetically, though the same acid occurs naturally in apples and other fruit. The same applies to a vegetarian diet.
Yes — the additive itself contains no gluten. A gluten-free claim belongs to the finished product, though — check the pack, not the additive.
It is manufactured synthetically, though the same acid occurs naturally in apples and other fruit and contains no animal-derived material, so the additive itself is not inherently non-halal. Certification applies to a finished product rather than to an additive, so a halal certification mark on the pack is the authoritative signal.
EFSA classes malic acid as safe and has not set a numerical acceptable daily intake, meaning no limit was judged necessary. It is restricted in foods for infants and young children, whose metabolism handles it less readily. As with any food acid, frequent acidic drinks contribute to dental enamel erosion.