Particulate acidulant composition comprising malic acid and lactic acid

A particulate acidulant composition, comprising:

• (a) a total amount of 20-70 wt. % malic acid in the composition,
• (b) a total amount of 3-40 wt. % lactic acid in the composition, and
• (c) 0-40 wt. % of food acid selected from citric acid, fumaric acid, adipic acid, tartaric acid, acetic acid and combinations thereof,
• wherein the particulate acidulant composition comprises:
• (i) 40-90 wt. % of M-particles comprising a co-crystal of malic acid and mono-sodium hydrogen malate, the M-particles comprising at least 30 wt. % malic acid and at least 30 wt. % of the mono-sodium hydrogen malate, and wherein the M-particles have a core comprising malic acid in a concentration that is at least 10 wt. % higher than the average malic acid concentration of the M-particles;
• wherein the M-particle is characterized by an X-ray powder diffraction pattern having one or more peaks at about 15.2, 22.2, 24.2, 25.0, 28.3, 29.1, 32.4, 34.8, 37.6 and 42.5 degrees two-theta±0.2 degrees two-theta;
• (ii) 5-60 wt. % of L-particles consisting of a co-crystal of lactic acid and calcium lactate, the L-particles comprising at least 30 wt. % lactic acid and at least 30 wt. % of the calcium lactate, and wherein the L-particles have been prepared by spraying an aqueous solution of lactic acid onto particles of the calcium lactate;
• wherein the L-particle is characterized by an X-ray powder diffraction pattern having one or more peaks at about 8.0, 9.9, 12.5, 13.3, 17.6, 19.9, 20.5, 21.2, 22.0, 23.4, 26.2, and 31.8 degrees two-theta±0.2 degrees two-theta;
• and
• wherein the combination of M-particles and L-particles constitutes at least 50 wt. % of the acidulant composition.