Editing Chemistry of ascorbic acid (section)

===Food additive===
The main use of {{sm|l}}-ascorbic acid and its salts is as food additives, mostly to combat oxidation and prevent discoloration of the product during storage.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Use of Ascorbic Acid as a Food Additive: Technical-Legal Issues |work=National Library of Medicine |date=2016 |publisher=National Center for Biotechnology Information|pmc=5076701 |volume=5 |issue=1 |page=4313 |doi=10.4081/ijfs.2016.4313 |pmid=27800425 | vauthors = Varvara M, Bozzo G, Celano G, Disanto C, Pagliarone CN, Celano GV }}</ref>  It is approved for this purpose in the EU with [[E number]] E300,<ref name="UK Food Standards Agency">UK Food Standards Agency: {{cite web |url=http://www.food.gov.uk/safereating/chemsafe/additivesbranch/enumberlist |title=Current EU approved additives and their E Numbers |access-date=2011-10-27}}</ref> the US,<ref name="USFDA">US Food and Drug Administration: {{cite web|url=https://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodIngredientsPackaging/FoodAdditives/FoodAdditiveListings/ucm091048.htm |title=Listing of Food Additives Status Part I |website=[[Food and Drug Administration]] |access-date=2011-10-27 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117060614/https://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodIngredientsPackaging/FoodAdditives/FoodAdditiveListings/ucm091048.htm |archive-date=2012-01-17 }}</ref> Australia, and New Zealand.<ref name="Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code-2011">Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code{{cite web |url=http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F2011C00827 |title=Standard 1.2.4 – Labelling of ingredients |date=8 September 2011 |access-date=2011-10-27}}</ref>

The "{{sm|d}}" enantiomer ([[erythorbic acid]]) shares all of the non-biological chemical properties with the more common {{sm|l}} enantiomer. As a result, it is an equally effective food antioxidant, and is also approved in processed foods.<ref>[http://www.food.gov.uk/safereating/chemsafe/additivesbranch/enumberlist Current EU approved additives and their E Numbers], Food Standards Agency</ref>