Re: Can the source of ascorbic acid be identified in a fruit powder or juice?

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If ascorbic acid is added to a fruit powder or juice to raise the 
percentage of ascorbic acid, could a testing method determine the source of 
the ascorbic acid or is purified ascorbic acid unidentifiable.
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Let's think about what you are saying. Ascorbic acid is a chemical substance.
If it were chemically different, it would not be ascorbic acid. So purified
ascorbic acid is purified ascorbic acid (full stop).

Now, of course, if you're dealing with crude ascorbic acid you might be
able to identify the source by analyzing the impurities. But (unlike the
bad old days; read all about 'em in Reay Tannahill's "Food in History")
food-grade ascorbic acid will be as pure as the regulations require, 
which is pretty darned pure.

Furthermore, a "natural source" of the ascorbic acid does not guarantee
either purity or safety. There are lots of "natural" poisons out there, and
failure to clean them up is just as detrimental as failure to clean up
"artificial" poisons.

                                            Dan Berger
                                            MadSci Administrator