Once a month I boil some white vinegar in my tea kettle. Gets rid of the "scaling" inside from the chemicals in the water. I also clean our electric coffee maker regularly by running white vinegar through a cycle.
I don't see much difference between drinking it straight or putting it on something and then consuming it. Either way, chemically, I don't think it is being broken down.
I am saying that I don't think vinegar gets broken down by sprinkling it on food, as opposed to cooking with it. Like the wiki thing referenced.
Of course it is broken down upon digestion.