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 122 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-van Camp — Water Beverage Mix with Vitamins
Citric Acid, Cane Sugar
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Red Bull North America, Inc. — Yellow Energy Drink
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Caffeine, Glycerin/Glycerol
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Red Grapefruit in Extra Light Syrup
Grapefruit, Cane Sugar, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Cranberry Light Juice Drink with 2 Other Juices From Concentrate, Cranberry
Apple, Cranberry, Grape, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods Company — Peaches in Watermelon Flavored Gel
Peach, Cane Sugar, Carrageenan, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — Pepperoni
Pork, Beef, Paprika, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Red Fajita Casero Seasoning, Red Fajita
Chili Pepper, Oregano, Garlic, Onion, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Lime
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Zingy Cilantro, Lime Zest + Garlic Seasoning, Zingy
Garlic, Onion, Cane Sugar, Fructose, Coriander/Cilantro, Lime, Citric Acid, Solanine
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
BJ's Wholesale Club / Corporate Brands — ITALIAN STYLE PIZZA SAUCE, ITALIAN STYLE
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Olive, Citric Acid, Garlic, Onion
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Kellogg Company — Fruity Snacks, Mixed Berry
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Act Ii Butter Lovers, 2.75 Oz
Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Conagra Brands — Banquet Brown N Serve Original Patty, 6.4 Oz
Pork, Turkey, Soybean, Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Orville Redenbachers Caramel Popcorn
Cane Sugar, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Hunt's Tomato Sauce with Roasted Garlic, 8 Oz, 8 Oz
Tomato, Citric Acid, Sesame, Chili Pepper
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — V8 Beverage Vegetable
Tomato, Carrot, Celery, Beet, Parsley, Lettuce, Spinach, Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Pillsbury Pie Crusts 6 Count
Wheat, Pork, Rice, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Stride Sour Patch Kids Gum Blue Raspberry 1x14 Pc
Glycerin/Glycerol, Aspartame, Blue #1, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Mtn Dew Code Red Cherry Flavor 2 Liter Plastic Bottle
Fructose, Corn, Orange, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Fanta Berry Soda Bottle, 20 Fl Oz
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Trebor Softmints Softmints Citrus 44.9 Gr
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Wheat, Tapioca
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Hubert's Lemonade Watermelon Glass Bottle, 16 Fl Oz
Lemon, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Napoleon Co. — Stuffed Olives
Olive, Chili Pepper, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Good Humor-breyers Ice Cream — Ice Pops
Fructose, Corn, Cane Sugar, Lemon, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Cherry
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Daiya — Monterey Jack Style
Tapioca, Coconut, Green Pea, Canola/Rapeseed, Safflower, Citric Acid, Potato
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — ITALIAN SAUCE, TRADITIONAL
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Canola/Rapeseed, Onion, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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