If you are into purchasing organic foods, you are likely the type of person who reads the ingredients label of everything you buy. A common food ingredient found in organic foods is citric acid. The name of the chemical reminds us of citrusy fruits, but have you ever questioned why it is used, where it comes from, or how it is produced? Or do you simply trust the ingredients of products labelled 'organic'?

Most consumers will assume that citric acid is naturally extracted from fruit sources, such as lemons and limes, and used as a "natural" alternative to chemical preservatives, but that's far from the truth. The citric acid found in jarred foods and beverages is typically manufactured in factories using a species of black mold called Asperg ...