Dehydrated Lime Powder

About

What it is and where it shows up.

Dehydrated lime powder is produced by drying the juice, pulp, peel, or whole fruit of Citrus aurantifolia (lime) and milling it into a powder, concentrating its characteristic acidic flavour, aroma, and bioactive compounds. It is used in food manufacturing as a natural flavouring, acidulant, and functional ingredient in beverages, seasonings, snacks, confectionery, and processed foods.

Safety summary

The regulatory and scientific consensus.

Dehydrated lime powder derived from Citrus aurantifolia is broadly considered safe for the general adult population as a natural fruit-derived ingredient with no established ADI; no major regulatory authority has assigned an E-number or additive classification to the whole-fruit powder form. Its high citric acid content may aggravate acid-related conditions such as gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or dental enamel erosion with excessive consumption. Lime (Citrus aurantifolia) contains bioactive flavonoids (e.g., hesperidin) and limonoids (e.g., limonin) with antioxidant properties, and clinical research suggests lime powder may beneficially affect urinary biochemistry in patients prone to kidney stones.

Regulatory landscape

What food-safety regulators have decided.

Jurisdiction	Status	Note
EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union)	Approved	Dehydrated lime powder in its whole-fruit/juice form is not assigned an E-number and is not regulated as a food additive under EU Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008; it is treated as a natural food ingredient or natural flavouring. Individual additive components extracted from lime (e.g. citric acid E330) carry separate E-number authorisations.source
FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India)	Approved	FSSAI classifies dehydrated/powdered fruit products including lime under standardised food product categories. Lime juice and lime-derived products are explicitly referenced in FSSAI contaminant regulations (e.g., lead MRL of 2.0 ppm for concentrates, lime juice and lemon juice) under Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Regulations, 2011 (effective 5 August 2011). Dehydrated lime powder falls under the broad dehydrated vegetable/fruit powder category for licensing purposes.source
FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States)	Approved	Lime juice and lime-derived ingredients are recognised as conventional food ingredients/natural flavourings. Dehydrated lime powder derived wholly from lime fruit is regulated as a natural food ingredient/flavouring; no formal additive petition is required. Listed in FDA Substances Added to Food (formerly EAFUS) inventory for lime juice.source

Who should approach with care

Whose guidance would steer them away.

Ibs — High citric acid content in lime powder may trigger or worsen symptoms such as bloating, cramping, and diarrhoea in individuals with irritable bowel syndrome sensitive to acidic foods.

Ibd — Acidic and high-fibre components of whole lime powder may irritate the gastrointestinal mucosa during active flares of inflammatory bowel disease.

Kidney Disease — Although lime powder has shown inhibitory effects against calcium oxalate stone formation (PMID:28585182), patients with pre-existing kidney disease or those on potassium-restricted diets should consult a doctor before regular supplemental use due to variable citrate and potassium content.

Gout — While citrus products are not direct gout triggers, the high acidity of lime powder in concentrated supplemental doses may be poorly tolerated alongside gout medications; culinary amounts are generally acceptable.

Other — Individuals with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or erosive dental conditions should limit intake of concentrated dehydrated lime powder due to its high citric acid content, which can exacerbate acid reflux and contribute to dental enamel erosion.

Research citations

The sources behind this verdict.

1EFSA. Food Additives – EFSA Overview and Re-evaluation Programme. efsa.europa.eu
2PubMed. Lime powder treatment reduces urinary excretion of total protein and transferrin but increases uromodulin excretion in patients with urolithiasis. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
3FDA. Substances Added to Food (formerly EAFUS) – Lime Juice, 2025. hfpappexternal.fda.gov
4FSSAI. Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Regulations, 2011 – Version VI (January 2022), 2022. fssai.gov.in
5PubMed. A Green Extraction Method to Achieve the Highest Yield of Limonin and Hesperidin from Lime Peel Powder (Citrus aurantifolia), 2022. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Independently researched5 citations