Question

Citric acid is widely used in the food and beverage industry. It is primarily produced by

• A. Bacteria
• B. Yeast
• C. Fungi
• D. Algae

Hint:

• Citric acid is a common food additive (E330).
• Industrially, it is produced mainly by fermentation using the fungus Aspergillus niger.
• This process utilizes carbohydrate feedstocks like molasses or corn starch.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Citric acid is an organic acid that is widely used as an acidulant, flavoring agent, and preservative in the food and beverage industry, as well as in pharmaceutical and other industrial applications. While citric acid is found naturally in citrus fruits, its large-scale industrial production is primarily achieved through microbial fermentation. The most common microorganism used for the commercial production of citric acid is the filamentous fungus Aspergillus niger. This fungus is cultured under specific conditions (e.g., using molasses or other carbohydrate-rich substrates) where it efficiently converts sugars into citric acid. Let's consider the options:
(a) Bacteria: Some bacteria can produce citric acid, but Aspergillus niger is the dominant industrial producer.
(b) Yeast: Some yeasts (e.g., Yarrowia lipolytica) can produce citric acid, and research is ongoing for their use, but Aspergillus niger remains the primary commercial source.
(c) Fungi: This is the correct category. Aspergillus niger is a fungus.
(d) Algae: Algae are primarily known for photosynthesis and production of other compounds, not typically for large-scale industrial citric acid production.
Therefore, citric acid is primarily produced by fungi, specifically Aspergillus niger. \[ \boxed{\text{Fungi}} \]