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MtzKate Aug 23, 2006 12:27 AM

Sodium Citrate as a preservative

I bought some nitrate-free sausages at Cosco and found the preservative to be sodium citrate. How bad is sodium citrate?
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›8 Replies . Latest Aug 24, 2006 by Eldon Kreider
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     MtzKate Aug 24, 2006 03:57 AM

    What about sodium lactate, which is in the nitrate-free turkey I buy from Trader Joe's?
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    1. re: MtzKate
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       Eldon Kreider Aug 24, 2006 05:39 PM

      Sodium lactate is the sodium salt of lactic acid. Lactic acid is produced from lactose (milk sugar) by bacterial cultures to produce sour cream and yogurt among other things. Lactic acid causes the tanginess of yogurt and sour cream.

      Some fermented pickles give off lactic acid, which along with salt is what preserves them.
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    2. steinpilz Aug 23, 2006 03:16 AM

      I agree, much safer than nitrates... bombs vs oranges.
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         MtzKate Aug 23, 2006 04:32 AM

        Thank you...great analogy, which I can relate to!
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         wally Aug 23, 2006 12:51 AM

        Citric acid is the acid in lemon juice. Sodium citrate is the sodium salt of citric acid. Table salt is sodium chloride which is the sodium salt of hydrochloric acid.
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        1. re: wally
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           MtzKate Aug 23, 2006 04:31 AM

          Thank you
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        2. coolbean98 Aug 23, 2006 12:49 AM

          Quite safe. It's used alot as a pH buffer.
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          1. re: coolbean98
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             MtzKate Aug 23, 2006 04:31 AM

            Thank you
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