Widely used in the food and beverage industry as an acidulant to enhance flavor and preserve freshness. It provides a sour taste in soft drinks, candies, and fruit juices. Acts as a natural preservative by lowering pH, inhibiting microbial growth in canned and packaged foods. Common in dairy products to control acidity and aid in coagulation, such as in cheese production. Used in pharmaceuticals to stabilize active ingredients and improve solubility in effervescent tablets. Employed in cleaning products for its ability to chelate metal ions, removing hard water stains and scale from surfaces. Found in cosmetics and skincare products to adjust pH and act as a mild exfoliant. Also used in industrial applications like water softening and as a biodegradable alternative in detergents.