Sodium citrate is used as a food additive and has the greatest demand. It is mainly used as a flavoring agent, buffer, emulsifier, expansion agent, stabilizer and preservative, etc.; in addition, sodium citrate is compatible with citric acid for various jams, Gelling agents, nutritional supplements and flavoring agents for jelly, fruit juice, beverages, cold drinks, dairy products and pastries.

Citric acid is a weak organic acid. It is a natural preservative and is also used to add an acidic, or sour, taste to foods and soft drinks. In biochemistry, it is important as an intermediate in the citric acid cycle and therefore occurs in the metabolism of virtually all living things. It can also be used as an environmentally benign cleaning agent.