Widely used in the food and beverage industry as an acidulant to enhance sour taste and preserve freshness. It helps control pH, improves flavor stability, and acts as a natural preservative in soft drinks, candies, and canned foods. Commonly found in cleaning agents due to its ability to chelate metals, making it effective in descaling kettles and removing hard water stains. Used in cosmetics and personal care products to adjust acidity and stabilize formulations. Plays a role in pharmaceuticals as an excipient to improve solubility and as a component in effervescent tablets. Also utilized in detergent formulations to boost cleaning performance by binding calcium and magnesium ions.