Gluconic acid is a mild organic acid, neither caustic nor corrosive and with an excellent sequestering power. Non-toxic and readily biodegradable (98 % after 2 days), it occurs naturally in plants, fruits and other foodstuffs such as (up to 0.25 %) and honey (up to 1 %). Gluconic acid is prepared by fermentation of glucose, whereby the physiological d-form is produced. Gluconic acid has versatile properties through being a polyhydroxycarboxylic acid, with both hydroxyl and carboxyl groups which can react.