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 124 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
The Kellogg Company — Assorted Fruit Snacks
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Meals — Gelatin Mix, Blueberry Gelatin
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hormel Foods Corporation — Mild Salsa, Mild
Tomato, Citric Acid, Onion, Chili Pepper, Corn, Garlic, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kellogg Company Us — Kellogg's Other Licensed Fruit Pieces Shopkins .8oz
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Diet Pepsi Wild Cherry 2 Liter Plastic Bottle
Citric Acid, Caffeine
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Pepsico — Lipton Iced Tea Peach 20 Fluid Ounce Plastic Bottle
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Tea, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Apples Soft Candy Bulk Fat Free6x5.000 Lb
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Mtn Dew Code Diet Red Cherry Soda 12 Fluid Ounce Aluminum Can
Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Aspartame, Caffeine, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Barq's Root Beer Bottle, 24 Fl Oz
Corn, Fructose, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid, Caffeine
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ritz Crisp & Thin Biscuits Salt and Black Pepper
Potato, Sodium Metabisulfite, Corn, Sunflower, Wheat, Cane Sugar, Canola/Rapeseed, Oat, Black Pepper, Soybean, Lecithin (Soy), Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dairylea Strip Cheese Processed Cheese-snack Supermix 168 Gr
Cow's Milk, Whey, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Stewed Tomatoes
Tomato, Fructose, Corn, Onion, Celery, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Lipton — Welch's, Jam, Concord Grape
Grape, Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Market Pantry — Fruit-flavored Snacks
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Pork, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — DIP, DRESSING & RECIPE MIX, THICK & CREAMY RANCH
Corn, MSG, Garlic, Onion, Parsley, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Ocean Spray, Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice Drink, Ruby Red Grapefruit
Grapefruit, Cane Sugar, Beet, Carrot, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle USA Inc. — Ortega, Fire Roasted Whole Green Chiles, Mild
Chili Pepper, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Newman's Own, Inc. — Newman's Own, Hot Chunky Salsa, Hot
Tomato, Citric Acid, Chili Pepper, Onion, Cane Sugar, Coriander/Cilantro, Garlic, Black Pepper
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hormel Foods Corporation — Hormel, Genoa Salami
Pork, Beef, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Yogurt Drink
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Citric Acid, Carrageenan
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Frito-Lay Company — ORIGINAL SLOW COOKED AND SMOKED BEEF JERKY, ORIGINAL
Beef, Cane Sugar, Wheat, Soybean, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hormel Foods Corporation — Gelatin Dessert
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Corn, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Del Monte, Diced Pears in Extra Light Syrup
Pear, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Naturally and Artificial Flavored
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Fructose, Tapioca, Whey, Corn, Pineapple, Citric Acid, Carrot
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Gatorade Prime Fruit Punch (4 - 4FlOz) 15.9 Fluid Ounce 4Pk Plastic Pouch
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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