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 115 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Sodterra Beverage Co., Llc — Sound, Sparkling White Tea, Peach + Ginger
Tea, Ginger, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Garlic & Herb Pasta Sauce, Garlic & Herb
Tomato, Carrot, Soybean, Citric Acid, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Philadelphia Cream Cheese-mini Tubs Garlic and Herbs 140 Gr
Cow's Milk, Garlic, Carrageenan, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Kids Soft Candy Fire Fat Free1x4 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 |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Minute Maid Mixed Berry Juice Bottle, 10 Fl Oz
Apple, Grape, Raspberry, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hormel Foods Corporation — Chi-chi's, Thick & Chunky Salsa, Flavor
Tomato, Onion, Chili Pepper, Garlic, Citric Acid, Capsaicin, Solanine
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Snap-e-tom, Tomato & Chile Cocktail From Concentrate
Tomato, Chili Pepper, Onion, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle Waters North America Inc. — Nestea, Liquid Water Enhancer, Green Tea with Citrus
Citric Acid, Tea
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Marsh Supermarkets, Llc — 100% Juice From Concentrate
Tomato, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Mandarin Oranges in Extra Light Syrup
Orange, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Newman's Own, Inc. — Licorice Bites
Tapioca, Wheat, Cane Sugar, Sunflower, Glycerin/Glycerol, Strawberry, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods, Llc — Red Grapefruit Sunrise in a Blend of 100% Fruit Juice, Red Grapefruit Sunrise
Grapefruit, Grape, Lemon, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods, Llc — Tropical Fruit Salad in Light Syrup and Passion Fruit Juice, Tropical Fruit Salad
Pineapple, Papaya, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle Waters North America Inc. — Nestea, Iced Sweet Tea
Fructose, Corn, Tea, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Minute Maid Company — LIGHT LEMONADE LEMON JUICE, LIGHT LEMONADE
Lemon, Citric Acid, Aspartame, Corn, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-van Camp — Riptide Rush Crisp & Cool Thirst Quencher, Riptide Rush
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — Campbell's Condensed Soup Tomato
Tomato, Fructose, Corn, Wheat, Citric Acid, Celery, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Betty Crocker Rich & Creamy Cream Cheese Frosting
Cane Sugar, Corn, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Annie's Organic Confetti Cake Mix
Cane Sugar, Wheat, Rice, Potato, Sunflower, Citric Acid, Turmeric, Carrot, Cabbage, Radish
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — NONFAT GREEK YOGURT, PINEAPPLE
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Pineapple, Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Greek Nonfat Yogurt
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Tomato Sauce with Basil, Garlic & Oregano
Tomato, Basil, Garlic, Citric Acid, Onion, Oregano
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Green Icing
Cane Sugar, Soybean, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Lemon & Pepper Seasoning
Black Pepper, Citric Acid, Onion, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Celery, Lemon, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle — Acai Grape
Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
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