Ingredient
Nitric acid
What is Nitric acid?
Nitric acid is a strong, colorless acid that is typically used in industrial settings. It is produced through the oxidation of ammonia and is mainly used to create fertilizers and explosives. In very dilute forms, it is sometimes found as a cleaning or pH-adjusting agent.
In consumer products, nitric acid is occasionally used as a low-level pH adjuster in disinfectants or cleaning agents. Its use in food or beverages is rare and typically discouraged due to its corrosive nature. If it appears on a product label, it's often in trace amounts as a processing aid.
While nitric acid has industrial uses, seeing it on a label may indicate a functional role such as pH adjustment. Its corrosive nature means it is generally handled with caution in both industrial and consumer settings.
Commonly found in: industrial chemicals, fertilizers, cleaning agents, disinfectants
What to watch
- Nitric acid is highly corrosive and can cause severe burns if not properly diluted.
- Its ingestion in even relatively low concentrations can be hazardous to health.
Nitric acid is not approved as a food additive by the FDA and its use is mainly restricted to industrial and non-food applications.
There is limited research on the effects of low-level nitric acid exposure in consumer products, but high concentrations are known to be harmful.
Nitric acid is a synthetic chemical and does not involve animal products, making it compatible with vegan principles.
Sources: Chemical Safety Information
Scout's take
Nitric acid is corrosive and indicates either contamination or industrial residue; not desirable in drinking water. Reported value: 0.52 ppm.
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