Ingredient · Ingredient
Foaming agent triethyl citrate
A citric-acid-derived ester used in tiny amounts as a foaming or carrier agent; not a health concern at normal food levels.
Triethyl citrate is an ester made from citric acid and ethanol, used in food and cosmetics as a foaming aid, solvent, or plasticizer. It's approved for food use in the EU and US and only appears in small quantities, so it poses little risk to most people.
Why it matters
Triethyl citrate (sometimes called E1505) is made by combining citric acid — the acid in citrus fruit — with ethanol. In food, it helps stabilize foams (like whipped toppings or egg-white products) and can act as a solvent or carrier for flavors. In cosmetics it's used as a skin conditioner, plasticizer in nail products, and deodorant ingredient because it can block bacterial enzymes that cause body odor. Your body breaks it down using normal metabolic pathways for esters, releasing citric acid and ethanol, both of which are already handled by ordinary metabolism.
