Some people may be mistaken these two different categories of food additives, sorbic acid is a preservative while ascorbic acid (vitamin c) is an antioxidant and also a vitamin c supplement.

What is the common name for ascorbic acid?

Vitamin C (also known as ascorbic acid and ascorbate) is a vitamin found in various foods and sold as a dietary supplement.

Is citric acid and sorbic acid the same thing?

Chemical Structure

Citric acid is a tricarboxylic acid and is classified as a weak organic acid 3. ... Murli Dharmadhikari of Iowa State University, sorbic acid is a straight-chain unsaturated fatty acid that is highly reactive. It is often reacted with potassium to produce potassium salt for commercial use.