[PDF] Acids present in fruits and vegetables (updated list)

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Acids present in various food items are the only acid that can be eaten. These acids are responsible for the sharpness of the taste of any food. These acids are present in some amounts in all fruits and vegetables. Many of the acids found in vegetables are also found in fruits. Here we have provided the list of Acids present in fruits and vegetables.

List of Acid present in food items

SL. NoAcidFood Source
1.Citric AcidCitrus fruits- lemon, Orange, Grapefruit
2.Tartaric AcidTamarind, Grapes, Pineapples, Potatoes, Carrots
3.Acetic AcidVinegar
4. Oxalic Acid Pepper, Spinach, Tomato
5.Tannic AcidTea
6.Caffeotannic AcidCoffee
7.Benzoic acidCranberries, prunes and plums
8.Malic AcidApple, Ripe Bananas, Bananas, pomegranates, grapes, berries, tomatoes, and broccoli
9.Lactic acidMilk, Curd, Cheese
10.Butyric acid  and Caproic acidButter
11.Glutamic acid Onion
12.Palmitic acid and oleic acidGhee
13.Carbonic acid andSoda Water (Carbonated Beverages)
14.Phosphoric acid Soft drinks (Fruit)
15.Caprylic acid  and Palmitic acidCoconut  oil and   Palm oil
16.Arachidic acid Ground nut oil
17.Oleic acidOlive oil
18.Erucic acidMustard oil
19.Lauric acid Coconut milk
20.Linoleic acid (55%)Soybean oil
21.Myristic acidCoconut oil
22.Pantothenic acidChicken, Eggs, Mushrooms, Avocado
23.Folic Acid Asparagus,  Brussels sprouts,  Spinach, Lettuce.
24.Ascorbic AcidAmla, Gooseberry, Guava

Natural acids present in fruits

Sl. NoTypePredominant Acid(s)
1.BananasMalic
2.KiwifruitCitric
3.LimesCitric, malic, tartaric and oxalic acids
4.LemonsCitric, malic, tartaric and oxalic acids
5.ApplesMalic, Succinic acids
6.ApricotsMalic and Citric acids
7.AvocadosTartaric Acid
8.GrapefruitCitric, tartaric, malic and oxalic acids
9.GrapesMalic and tartaric, citric and oxalic acids.
10.KumquatCitric
11.LoganberryMalic, citric acids
12.NectarineMalic
13.Orange PeelMalic, citric and oxalic acids
14.OrangeCitric, malic and oxalic acids
15.Passionfruitmalic
16.PeachesMalic and citric acids
17.PearsMalic, citric, tartaric and oxalic acids
18.PineapplesCitric and malic acids
19.PlumsMalic, tartaric and oxalic acids
20.RaspberryCitric
21.RosehipMalic
22.QuincesMalic acid
23.SaladCitric and malic
24.StrawberriesCitric, malic, shikimic, succinic acids
25.TangerineCitric
26.YoungberriesCitric, malic and Isocitric acids
27.BilberryCitric acid
28.BlackberriesMalic and Quinic acids
29.BlueberriesCitric, Malic, Citramalic, quinic, glutamic and aspartic acids
30.BoysenberriesCitric, malic, and Isocitric acids.
31.CherriesMalic, Citric, Tartaric, Succinic
32.CrabappleMalic
33.CranberriesCitric, malic and benzoic acids.
34.CurrantsCitric, tartaric, malic and succinic acids
35.ElderberriesCitric, malic, shikimic and quinic acids
36.FigsCitric, malic and acetic acids
37.GooseberriesCitric, malic, shikimic and quinic acids

Acidic Fruits list with pH value

Foods with a pH above 7 are considered alkaline, per the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), whereas those that are below 7 are acidic.

  • Lemon (2-2.6)
  • Lime (2 -2.8)
  • Orange (3.7 – 4.3)
  • Grapes (2.9 – 3.8)
  • Tangerine (3.9)
  • Pineapple (3-4)
  • Kiwi (3.1 – 3.9)
  • Apple (3.3 – 4)
  • Pomegranate (2.9-3.2)
  • Blue Plums (2.8 – 3.4)
  • Tomato (4.3 – 4.9)
  • Cranberry (2.3 to 2.5)
  • Passionfruit (2.7-3.1)
  • Mango (3.4 -6)
  • Blueberries (3.1 – 3.3)
  • Pineapples (3.2 – 4)
  • Peaches (3.3 – 4)
  • Sour cherry (3.06–3.35)
  • Apricots (3.3 – 4.8)

Acids Present in Foods [Infographic]

The acids given in the list below are the most known acids present in food items, which are asked in all competitive exams under the General Science section.

Acids present in fruits and vegetables
Acids Present in Foods

Natural acids present in Vegetables

Sl. NoTypePredominant Acid(s)
1.BeansCitric, Malic acids
2.BroccoliMalic, Citric, Oxalic and Succinic acids
3.CarrotsMalic, Citric, Fumaric acids
4.MushroomsLactarimic, Cetostearic, Fumaric acids
5.PeasMalic acid
6.PotatoesMalic, Citric, Oxalic acids
7.RhubarbMalic, Citric and Oxalic acids
8.TomatoesCitric, malic and Oxalic acids

Sample Questions

Question 1: The acetic acid present in which fruit?
Answer: Natural sources of acetic acid include grapes, apples, strawberries, pineapples, and oranges.

Question 2: Name the acid present in lemon juice?
Answer: Citric Acid

• Citric acid is a colorless weak organic acid. It occurs naturally in citrus fruits. Citrate is a derivative of citric acid, widely used as an acidifier, flavoring and chelating agent.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1. Which acid is found in grapes?

Answer: Tartaric acid and L-malic acids are present in grapes.

Q2. What foods contain acetic acid?

Answer: Apples, grapes, pineapples, strawberries, and oranges are natural sources of acetic acid. In addition to natural sources, vinegar (5-8% acetic acid) used in food also contains acetic acid.

Q3. What is the name of the acid found in lemon?

Answer: Citric Acid

Q4. Which acid is found in spinach?

Answer: oxalic acid

Q5. Names of acids present in vegetables:

Answer: Vegetables mainly contain citric acid, malic acid, and oxalic acid, and malic acid was the most abundant in most cases.

Q6. What kind of acid is in potatoes?

Answer: Malic acid, Citric acid, and Oxalic acid.

Q7. Do all vegetables are acids?

Answer: The pH range of vegetables varies from 4.2 to 6.2. This means the vegetables are weakly acidic. The majority of vegetables are alkaline.
But, their pH may change during processing and packaging to preserve them for longer periods. Naturally, most vegetables are non-acidic.

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