Fumaric acid is an important specialty chemical with wide industrial applications ranging from its use as feedstock for the synthesis of polymeric resins to acidulant in foods and pharmaceuticals. Currently, fumaric acid is mainly produced by petroleum-based chemical synthesis.

Why is fumaric acid in food?

Fumaric acid is the strongest organic food acid. It is used as a flavoring agent for its sourness taste, and an antimicrobial agent for its hydrophobic characteristic. Generally, it is used in food, beverage, animal nutrition, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industry.

Why is fumaric acid more stable?

Fumaric acid being the trans isomer will have the least steric hindrance as the carboxylic acid groups will be on the different sides of the double bonds causing the least electronic repulsion. Hence will be more stable as compared to Maleic acid.