Behind the scenes: Duluth factory is the country’s only producer of popular ingredient

DULUTH, Minn.–Whenever you decide to crack open a bag of salt and vinegar chips or break into a bag of some sour candy you’ve likely tasted malic, or fumaric acid.

For 47 years, a key ingredient found in many popular food items has been made right here in Duluth.

The factory, Primient Duluth, is the country’s only producer of the sour powder.

“So, malic acid, fumaric acid, they’re both naturally occurring organic acids, most notably found in fruits. So, when you when you bite into an apple, that that tartness is from malic acid,” said Rich Benner, plant manager at Primient Duluth.

Benner told FOX 21, everything is done under one roof.

“Our operation here is, it’s a continuous chemical process. It starts with a reaction process, where we use a hydration reaction to produce both malic acid and fumaric acid, then the rest of the process is really focusing on separating and purifying the two,” said Benner.

After the four-day process ends, the finished two truckloads of acid powder heads to Minneapolis.

And soon enough, it will end up just about anywhere around the world.

“From there it’s distributed to our customers across the globe. So, we shipped to North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa. So, we have a global reach, all from this plant in Duluth,” said Brenner.

The plant manager said, it’s a feeling that’s anything but sour.

“I know our employees take a lot of pride and safely producing high quality ingredients that that go into all sorts of products that you find at your local grocery store,” beamed Benner.