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 110 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
The Napoleon Co. — Diced Pimientos
Solanine, Chili Pepper, Paprika, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Medium Spicy Guacamole, Medium Spicy
Avocado, Chili Pepper, Garlic, Onion, Lime, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Sager Creek Vegetable Company, Classic Hummus
Sesame, Olive, Citric Acid, Garlic, Lemon, Onion
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Afc Trading & Wholesale, Inc. — Pineapple Habanero Original Vegan Jerky, Pineapple Habanero
Soybean, Corn, Wheat, Cane Sugar, Yeast (Baker's), Malt, Canola/Rapeseed, Green Pea, Chili Pepper, Black Pepper, Citric Acid, Pineapple
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle USA Inc. — Flavored Juice Blend, Mango
Apple, Pear, Mango, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico, Inc — Sparkling Clementine Flavored Juice Beverage Blend, Sparkling Clementine
Apple, Grape, Orange, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Cherry Fountain & Shake Syrup, 1 Gal Jugs, 1 Gal
Corn, Fructose, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico, Inc — Orange Strawberry Banana Blast Drink, Orange Strawberry Banana
Corn, Fructose, Orange, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Annie's Organic Mac and Bees, Pollinator Pasta Shapes & Yummy Cheddar
Wheat, Whey, Cow's Milk, Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Stride Gum Lemonberry Sugar Free1x14 Pc
Aspartame, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Minute Maid Light Lemonade Bottle, 52 Fl Oz
Lemon, Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, Aspartame
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Peach Yogurt
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Peach, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Adolph's, Marinade in Minutes, Tenderizing Marinade, Steak Sauce
Corn, Cane Sugar, Chili Pepper, Soybean, Wheat, Garlic, Onion, Citric Acid, Pineapple
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Clif Bar and Company — Clif, Shot Energy Gel
Corn, Cane Sugar, Coffee, Caffeine, Tea, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle USA Inc. — 100% Juice, Fruit Punch
Apple, Pear, Grape, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
HI-C POPPIN LEMONADE CARTONS, 6 FL OZ, 8 PACK
Fructose, Corn, Lemon, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Diet Sparkling Water & Real Fruit Juice
Cranberry, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Monster Energy Company — Hubert's Lemonade, Peach Lemonade, Peach
Cane Sugar, Lemon, Citric Acid, Peach
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Dannon, Dairy Drink, Mango
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Fructose, Tapioca, Whey, Corn, Mango, Citric Acid, Turmeric
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle Waters North America Inc. — Unsweetened Slow Brewed Iced Tea
Tea, Lemon, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Sara Lee Foods — Hillshire Farm, Beef Summer Sausage
Beef, Citric Acid, Mustard
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Propel, Workout Water Beverage with Vitamins, Grape
Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Dole Packaged Foods Company — Mango in Mango Flavored Gel
Mango, Cane Sugar, Carrageenan, Citric Acid, Carob
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mission Foods Inc — 100% Whole Wheat Burrito Flour Tortillas, 100% Whole Wheat
Wheat, Soybean, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Grape Cranberry Juice Sparkling Water, Cran Grape
Grape, Cane Sugar, Beet, Cranberry, Citric Acid, Carrot
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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