{
  "$schema": "https://foodadditiveindex.com/api/v1/schema.json",
  "id": "https://foodadditiveindex.com/additives/malic-acid",
  "slug": "malic-acid",
  "name": "Malic acid",
  "identifiers": {
    "e_number": "E296",
    "ins_number": "296",
    "cas_number": "6915-15-7",
    "inchikey": "BJEPYKJPYRNKOW-UHFFFAOYSA-N",
    "pubchem_cid": 525
  },
  "functional_class": "Acidity regulator",
  "summary": "Malic acid is the sharp acid of green apples, used to give tartness to confectionery, soft drinks and fruit preparations. It has a longer-lasting sourness than citric acid, which is why sour sweets use it.",
  "derivation_summary": "Produced industrially by hydrating maleic or fumaric acid, both petroleum-derived, giving the DL form. The single L form found in fruit is made by fermentation and is listed separately in some jurisdictions.",
  "regulatory_status": [
    {
      "jurisdiction": "US",
      "jurisdiction_name": "United States",
      "authority": "Food and Drug Administration",
      "status": "permitted",
      "status_label": "Permitted",
      "provision_count": 1,
      "provisions": [
        {
          "status": "permitted",
          "food_category": null,
          "max_level": null,
          "max_level_unit": null,
          "conditions": null,
          "effective_from": null,
          "citation": {
            "ref": "21 CFR 184.1069",
            "url": "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-184.1069"
          },
          "source": "ecfr",
          "retrieved_at": "2026-09-07T18:25:51.549Z"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "jurisdiction": "CODEX",
      "jurisdiction_name": "Codex Alimentarius",
      "authority": "Codex Alimentarius Commission / JECFA",
      "status": "permitted_with_conditions",
      "status_label": "Permitted, with conditions",
      "provision_count": 22,
      "provisions": [
        {
          "status": "permitted",
          "food_category": null,
          "max_level": null,
          "max_level_unit": "GMP",
          "conditions": null,
          "effective_from": "1999",
          "citation": {
            "ref": "CXS 192-1995 Table Three, INS 296",
            "url": "https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/codex-texts/dbs/gsfa/en/"
          },
          "source": "gsfa",
          "retrieved_at": "2026-09-07T07:54:15.059Z"
        },
        {
          "status": "permitted_with_conditions",
          "food_category": {
            "system": "codex",
            "code": "01.2.1.2",
            "name": "Fermented milks (plain), heat-treated after fermentation"
          },
          "max_level": null,
          "max_level_unit": "GMP",
          "conditions": "GSFA notes: 631",
          "effective_from": "2024",
          "citation": {
            "ref": "CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 296, food category 01.2.1.2",
            "url": "https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/codex-texts/dbs/gsfa/en/"
          },
          "source": "gsfa",
          "retrieved_at": "2026-09-07T07:54:15.059Z"
        },
        {
          "status": "permitted_with_conditions",
          "food_category": {
            "system": "codex",
            "code": "01.6.6",
            "name": "Whey protein cheese"
          },
          "max_level": null,
          "max_level_unit": "GMP",
          "conditions": null,
          "effective_from": "2006",
          "citation": {
            "ref": "CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 296, food category 01.6.6",
            "url": "https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/codex-texts/dbs/gsfa/en/"
          },
          "source": "gsfa",
          "retrieved_at": "2026-09-07T07:54:15.059Z"
        },
        {
          "status": "permitted_with_conditions",
          "food_category": {
            "system": "codex",
            "code": "04.2.2.1",
            "name": "Frozen vegetables (including mushrooms and fungi, roots and tubers, pulses and legumes, and aloe vera), seaweeds and nuts and seeds"
          },
          "max_level": null,
          "max_level_unit": "GMP",
          "conditions": "GSFA notes: 93",
          "effective_from": "2024",
          "citation": {
            "ref": "CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 296, food category 04.2.2.1",
            "url": "https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/codex-texts/dbs/gsfa/en/"
          },
          "source": "gsfa",
          "retrieved_at": "2026-09-07T07:54:15.059Z"
        },
        {
          "status": "permitted_with_conditions",
          "food_category": {
            "system": "codex",
            "code": "04.2.2.7",
            "name": "Fermented vegetable (including mushrooms and fungi, roots and tubers, pulses and legumes, and aloe vera) and seaweed products, excluding fermented soybean products of food categories 06.8.6, 06.8.7, 12.9.1,"
          },
          "max_level": null,
          "max_level_unit": "GMP",
          "conditions": null,
          "effective_from": "2013",
          "citation": {
            "ref": "CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 296, food category 04.2.2.7",
            "url": "https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/codex-texts/dbs/gsfa/en/"
          },
          "source": "gsfa",
          "retrieved_at": "2026-09-07T07:54:15.059Z"
        },
        {
          "status": "permitted_with_conditions",
          "food_category": {
            "system": "codex",
            "code": "06.4.2",
            "name": "Dried pastas and noodles and like products"
          },
          "max_level": null,
          "max_level_unit": "GMP",
          "conditions": "GSFA notes: 256",
          "effective_from": "2013",
          "citation": {
            "ref": "CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 296, food category 06.4.2",
            "url": "https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/codex-texts/dbs/gsfa/en/"
          },
          "source": "gsfa",
          "retrieved_at": "2026-09-07T07:54:15.059Z"
        },
        {
          "status": "permitted_with_conditions",
          "food_category": {
            "system": "codex",
            "code": "09.2.2",
            "name": "Frozen battered fish, fish fillets and fish products, including molluscs, crustaceans, and echinoderms"
          },
          "max_level": null,
          "max_level_unit": "GMP",
          "conditions": "GSFA notes: 41 & XS166",
          "effective_from": "2017",
          "citation": {
            "ref": "CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 296, food category 09.2.2",
            "url": "https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/codex-texts/dbs/gsfa/en/"
          },
          "source": "gsfa",
          "retrieved_at": "2026-09-07T07:54:15.059Z"
        },
        {
          "status": "permitted_with_conditions",
          "food_category": {
            "system": "codex",
            "code": "09.2.3",
            "name": "Frozen minced and creamed fish products, including molluscs, crustaceans, and echinoderms"
          },
          "max_level": null,
          "max_level_unit": "GMP",
          "conditions": "GSFA notes: 16",
          "effective_from": "2013",
          "citation": {
            "ref": "CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 296, food category 09.2.3",
            "url": "https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/codex-texts/dbs/gsfa/en/"
          },
          "source": "gsfa",
          "retrieved_at": "2026-09-07T07:54:15.059Z"
        },
        {
          "status": "permitted_with_conditions",
          "food_category": {
            "system": "codex",
            "code": "09.2.4",
            "name": "Cooked and/or fried fish and fish products, including molluscs, crustaceans, and echinoderms"
          },
          "max_level": null,
          "max_level_unit": "GMP",
          "conditions": null,
          "effective_from": "2013",
          "citation": {
            "ref": "CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 296, food category 09.2.4",
            "url": "https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/codex-texts/dbs/gsfa/en/"
          },
          "source": "gsfa",
          "retrieved_at": "2026-09-07T07:54:15.059Z"
        },
        {
          "status": "permitted_with_conditions",
          "food_category": {
            "system": "codex",
            "code": "09.2.5",
            "name": "Smoked, dried, fermented, and/or salted fish and fish products, including molluscs, crustaceans, and echinoderms"
          },
          "max_level": null,
          "max_level_unit": "GMP",
          "conditions": "GSFA notes: XS167, XS189, XS222, XS236, XS244 & XS311",
          "effective_from": "2013",
          "citation": {
            "ref": "CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 296, food category 09.2.5",
            "url": "https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/codex-texts/dbs/gsfa/en/"
          },
          "source": "gsfa",
          "retrieved_at": "2026-09-07T07:54:15.059Z"
        },
        {
          "status": "permitted_with_conditions",
          "food_category": {
            "system": "codex",
            "code": "12.1.2",
            "name": "Salt substitutes"
          },
          "max_level": null,
          "max_level_unit": "GMP",
          "conditions": null,
          "effective_from": "2013",
          "citation": {
            "ref": "CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 296, food category 12.1.2",
            "url": "https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/codex-texts/dbs/gsfa/en/"
          },
          "source": "gsfa",
          "retrieved_at": "2026-09-07T07:54:15.059Z"
        },
        {
          "status": "permitted_with_conditions",
          "food_category": {
            "system": "codex",
            "code": "13.2",
            "name": "Complementary foods for infants and young children"
          },
          "max_level": null,
          "max_level_unit": "GMP",
          "conditions": "GSFA notes: 83 & XS73",
          "effective_from": "2023",
          "citation": {
            "ref": "CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 296, food category 13.2",
            "url": "https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/codex-texts/dbs/gsfa/en/"
          },
          "source": "gsfa",
          "retrieved_at": "2026-09-07T07:54:15.059Z"
        },
        {
          "status": "permitted_with_conditions",
          "food_category": {
            "system": "codex",
            "code": "14.1.2.1",
            "name": "Fruit juice"
          },
          "max_level": null,
          "max_level_unit": "GMP",
          "conditions": "GSFA notes: 115 & XS356R",
          "effective_from": "2026",
          "citation": {
            "ref": "CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 296, food category 14.1.2.1",
            "url": "https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/codex-texts/dbs/gsfa/en/"
          },
          "source": "gsfa",
          "retrieved_at": "2026-09-07T07:54:15.059Z"
        },
        {
          "status": "permitted_with_conditions",
          "food_category": {
            "system": "codex",
            "code": "14.1.2.2",
            "name": "Vegetable juice"
          },
          "max_level": null,
          "max_level_unit": "GMP",
          "conditions": null,
          "effective_from": "2013",
          "citation": {
            "ref": "CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 296, food category 14.1.2.2",
            "url": "https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/codex-texts/dbs/gsfa/en/"
          },
          "source": "gsfa",
          "retrieved_at": "2026-09-07T07:54:15.059Z"
        },
        {
          "status": "permitted_with_conditions",
          "food_category": {
            "system": "codex",
            "code": "14.1.2.3",
            "name": "Concentrates for fruit juice"
          },
          "max_level": null,
          "max_level_unit": "GMP",
          "conditions": "GSFA notes: 115 & 127",
          "effective_from": "2005",
          "citation": {
            "ref": "CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 296, food category 14.1.2.3",
            "url": "https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/codex-texts/dbs/gsfa/en/"
          },
          "source": "gsfa",
          "retrieved_at": "2026-09-07T07:54:15.059Z"
        },
        {
          "status": "permitted_with_conditions",
          "food_category": {
            "system": "codex",
            "code": "14.1.2.4",
            "name": "Concentrates for vegetable juice"
          },
          "max_level": null,
          "max_level_unit": "GMP",
          "conditions": null,
          "effective_from": "2013",
          "citation": {
            "ref": "CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 296, food category 14.1.2.4",
            "url": "https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/codex-texts/dbs/gsfa/en/"
          },
          "source": "gsfa",
          "retrieved_at": "2026-09-07T07:54:15.059Z"
        },
        {
          "status": "permitted_with_conditions",
          "food_category": {
            "system": "codex",
            "code": "14.1.3.1",
            "name": "Fruit nectar"
          },
          "max_level": null,
          "max_level_unit": "GMP",
          "conditions": null,
          "effective_from": "2005",
          "citation": {
            "ref": "CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 296, food category 14.1.3.1",
            "url": "https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/codex-texts/dbs/gsfa/en/"
          },
          "source": "gsfa",
          "retrieved_at": "2026-09-07T07:54:15.059Z"
        },
        {
          "status": "permitted_with_conditions",
          "food_category": {
            "system": "codex",
            "code": "14.1.3.2",
            "name": "Vegetable nectar"
          },
          "max_level": null,
          "max_level_unit": "GMP",
          "conditions": null,
          "effective_from": "2013",
          "citation": {
            "ref": "CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 296, food category 14.1.3.2",
            "url": "https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/codex-texts/dbs/gsfa/en/"
          },
          "source": "gsfa",
          "retrieved_at": "2026-09-07T07:54:15.059Z"
        },
        {
          "status": "permitted_with_conditions",
          "food_category": {
            "system": "codex",
            "code": "14.1.3.3",
            "name": "Concentrates for fruit nectar"
          },
          "max_level": null,
          "max_level_unit": "GMP",
          "conditions": "GSFA notes: 127",
          "effective_from": "2005",
          "citation": {
            "ref": "CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 296, food category 14.1.3.3",
            "url": "https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/codex-texts/dbs/gsfa/en/"
          },
          "source": "gsfa",
          "retrieved_at": "2026-09-07T07:54:15.059Z"
        },
        {
          "status": "permitted_with_conditions",
          "food_category": {
            "system": "codex",
            "code": "14.1.3.4",
            "name": "Concentrates for vegetable nectar"
          },
          "max_level": null,
          "max_level_unit": "GMP",
          "conditions": null,
          "effective_from": "2013",
          "citation": {
            "ref": "CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 296, food category 14.1.3.4",
            "url": "https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/codex-texts/dbs/gsfa/en/"
          },
          "source": "gsfa",
          "retrieved_at": "2026-09-07T07:54:15.059Z"
        },
        {
          "status": "permitted_with_conditions",
          "food_category": {
            "system": "codex",
            "code": "14.1.5",
            "name": "Coffee, coffee substitutes, tea, herbal infusions, and other hot cereal and grain beverages, excluding cocoa"
          },
          "max_level": null,
          "max_level_unit": "GMP",
          "conditions": "GSFA notes: 160",
          "effective_from": "2013",
          "citation": {
            "ref": "CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 296, food category 14.1.5",
            "url": "https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/codex-texts/dbs/gsfa/en/"
          },
          "source": "gsfa",
          "retrieved_at": "2026-09-07T07:54:15.059Z"
        },
        {
          "status": "permitted_with_conditions",
          "food_category": {
            "system": "codex",
            "code": "14.2.3",
            "name": "Grape wines"
          },
          "max_level": null,
          "max_level_unit": "GMP",
          "conditions": "GSFA notes: 517, 510",
          "effective_from": "2023",
          "citation": {
            "ref": "CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 296, food category 14.2.3",
            "url": "https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/codex-texts/dbs/gsfa/en/"
          },
          "source": "gsfa",
          "retrieved_at": "2026-09-07T07:54:15.059Z"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "names": [
    {
      "name": "617-48-1",
      "type": "cas",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "6915-15-7",
      "type": "cas",
      "source": "openfoodtox"
    },
    {
      "name": "(+-)-1-Hydroxy-1,2-ethanedicarboxylic acid",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "(+-)-Hydroxysuccinic acid",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "(+-)-Malic acid",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "(+/-)-2-Hydroxysuccinic acid",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "(+/-)-Malic acid",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "(R)-Hydroxybutanedioic acid",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "(S)-Hydroxybutanedioic acid",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "2-Hydroxybutanedioic acid",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "2-Hydroxyethane-1,2-dicarboxylic acid",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "2-Hydroxysuccinic acid",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "817L1N4CKP",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Aepfelsaeure",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "alpha-Hydroxysuccinic acid",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Apple acid",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "butanedioic acid, 2-hydroxy-",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Butanedioic acid, hydroxy-",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "BUTANEDIOIC ACID, HYDROXY-, (S)-",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Caswell No. 537",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "CCRIS 2950",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "CCRIS 6567",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "d,l-malic acid",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Deoxytetraric acid",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "DL-2-hydroxybutanedioic acid",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "DL-Apple Acid",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "dl-Hydroxybutanedioic acid",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "DL-Malic Acid",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "openfoodtox"
    },
    {
      "name": "E 296",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "openfoodtox"
    },
    {
      "name": "EPA Pesticide Chemical Code 051101",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "FDA 2018",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "FEMA No. 2655",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "FEMA Number 2655",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "HSDB 1202",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "hydron;2-hydroxybutanedioate",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Hydroxybutandisaeure",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "hydroxybutanedioic acid",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Hydroxybutanedioic acid, (+-)-",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Hydroxybutanedioic acid, (-)-",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Hydroxyethane-1,2-dicarboxylic acid",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "hydroxysuccinic acid",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "INS NO.296",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "INS-296",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Kyselina hydroxybutandiova",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Kyselina jablecna",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "L-Malic acid-1-13C",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "malate",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "malate acid",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Malic acid",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "openfoodtox"
    },
    {
      "name": "Malic acid (NF)",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Malic Acid 1524",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Malic acid, DL-",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Malicum acidum",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Monohydroxybernsteinsaeure",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "MOOYAM AHA BHA FACE SERUM",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Musashi-no-Ringosan",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Pomalous acid",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "openfoodtox"
    },
    {
      "name": "Pomalus acid",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "R,S(+-)-Malic acid",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Succinic acid, hydroxy-",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "E296",
      "type": "e_number",
      "source": "openfoodtox"
    },
    {
      "name": "296",
      "type": "ins",
      "source": "gsfa"
    },
    {
      "name": "2-Hydroxybutanedioic acid",
      "type": "iupac",
      "source": "openfoodtox"
    },
    {
      "name": "Malic acid",
      "type": "label",
      "source": "ecfr"
    }
  ],
  "hazard_reference_values": [],
  "sources": [
    {
      "key": "ecfr",
      "name": "Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21",
      "publisher": "U.S. Government Publishing Office / National Archives",
      "licence": "Public domain",
      "url": "https://www.ecfr.gov/api/versioner/v1/full/2026-08-31/title-21.xml",
      "retrieved_at": "2026-09-07T18:25:51.549Z"
    },
    {
      "key": "gsfa",
      "name": "Codex General Standard for Food Additives (CXS 192-1995)",
      "publisher": "Codex Alimentarius Commission (FAO/WHO)",
      "licence": "FAO terms — non-commercial use with attribution",
      "url": "https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/codex-texts/dbs/gsfa/en/",
      "retrieved_at": "2026-09-07T07:54:15.059Z"
    }
  ],
  "citation_policy": "Cite as: Food Additive Index, \"Malic acid\", https://foodadditiveindex.com/additives/malic-acid. This site reports regulatory status and does not rate additives.",
  "generated_at": "2026-09-08T00:09:38.588Z"
}