Citric Acid in Grocery Products
Citric Acid is an MRT 176 panel substance found in 7,950 of the 20,682 products in our database. Here's every product we've analyzed that contains it.
Risk Distribution
How products containing Citric Acid break down by total trigger count:
Citric acid is one of 27 chemical additives tested on the MRT 176 panel, and it is by far the most prevalent. We found it in 38% of all grocery products in our database — that’s nearly 8,000 items.
While citric acid occurs naturally in citrus fruits, the citric acid used in food manufacturing is almost exclusively produced through Aspergillus niger fermentation of corn sugar. This means manufactured citric acid may trigger reactions in people sensitive to corn as well as those sensitive to citric acid itself.
Citric acid is used as a preservative, pH adjuster, and flavor enhancer. It appears in beverages, canned goods, condiments, snacks, and even some fresh-cut produce. If citric acid is on your Red list, finding packaged food without it is one of the biggest challenges of the LEAP protocol.
Related Reading
- What Does “Natural Flavors” Actually Mean? — Citric acid is often hidden inside “natural flavors”
- Products with the fewest MRT triggers overall
All Products Containing Citric Acid — Page 109 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Barqs French Vanilla Cream Soda Can, 12 Fl Oz
Fructose, Corn, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Kids Soft Candy Fire Fat Free1x3.6 Oz
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Del Monte, Red Grapefruit Sections in Light Syrup
Grapefruit, Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Chipotle Pepper Marinade
Cane Sugar, Tomato, Chili Pepper, Corn, Garlic, Onion, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — ALMOND MOCHA OVERNIGHT OATS CHILLED CEREAL, ALMOND MOCHA
Oat, Cane Sugar, Almond, Cocoa, Coffee, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mrs. Campbell's — Vidalia Onion
Cabbage, Cane Sugar, Onion, Turmeric, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Unilever Bestfoods North America — CLASSIC MAYONNAISE, CLASSIC
Soybean, Egg White, Egg Yolk, Cane Sugar, Lemon, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Amy's Kitchen Inc. — Vegan Broccoli & Cheeze Bake, Broccoli & Cheeze
Rice, Potato, Soybean, Broccoli, Tapioca, Safflower, Coconut, Yeast (Baker's), Green Pea, Citric Acid, Sunflower, Carrot, Pumpkin, Apple, Olive, Mustard, Fructose
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kellogg Company Us — Kellogg Fruit Pieces Disney Dory 16oz
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Hunts Tomato Sauce, 15 Oz
Tomato, Citric Acid, Onion, Garlic, Chili Pepper
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — LIME FLAVORED COLA, LIME
Cane Sugar, Corn, Fructose, Caffeine, Citric Acid, Lime
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Berry Chantilly Cake Ice Cream, Berry Chantilly Cake
Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Strawberry, Raspberry, Corn, Citric Acid, Tapioca
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Watermelon Soft Candy Bulk Fat Free6x5.000 Lb
Cane Sugar, Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Swedish Fish Soft Candy Berry Fat Free1x10 Oz
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — SWEET TEA
Fructose, Corn, Cane Sugar, Tea, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Roma Style Tomatoes Sauce
Tomato, Corn, Carrot, Citric Acid, Onion, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Cedar's Mediterranean Foods, Inc. — Cedar's, All Natural Hommus, Garlic Kale
Sesame, Sunflower, Olive, Garlic, Citric Acid, Chili Pepper, Capsaicin, Cumin
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Bahama Blast — Drink
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Corn, Benzoic Acid, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mayer Post Card Co. — Ginger Beer
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mott's Llp — Soda
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle Waters Canada — Splash Water Beverage
Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Starbucks Via — Refreshers Instant Beverage Mix
Cane Sugar, Grape, Citric Acid, Coffee
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Fruit Cup Snacks
Orange, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Mott's Llp — Sweet & Sour Mix
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, Sodium Metabisulfite, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Cranberry Blackberry Juice Drink From Concentrate, Cranberry Blackberry
Cranberry, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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