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 127 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
RAYGE CANDY & NUTS GUMMY SHARKS, 5 OZ
Corn, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Blue #1, Coconut, Canola/Rapeseed
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Swedish Fish Soft Candy Berry Fat Free8x240.000 1n
Cane Sugar, Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Philadelphia Cream Cheese-soft Garlic and Herbs Light
Cow's Milk, Garlic, Carrageenan, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods, Llc — Mandarin Oranges in 100% Fruit Juice
Orange, Grape, Lemon, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Macaroni & Cheese
Wheat, Cow's Milk, Whey, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — ROASTED GARLIC AND ONION PASTA SAUCE, ROASTED GARLIC ONION
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Soybean, Garlic, Onion, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
La Victoria Foods Inc. — Medium Fire Roasted Salsa Verde, Medium Fire Roasted
Chili Pepper, Capsaicin, Solanine, Onion, Citric Acid, Garlic, Lime, Benzoic Acid, Coriander/Cilantro
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Annie's Lemon & Chive Dressing
Canola/Rapeseed, Lemon, Garlic, Mustard, Citric Acid, Black Pepper
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Premium Diced Tomatoes
Tomato, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Clif Bar and Company — Clif, Shot Energy Gel, Razz
Corn, Cane Sugar, Raspberry, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hormel Foods Corporation — Hormel, Sandwich Style Pepperoni
Pork, Beef, Corn, Paprika, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Market Pantry — Butter Microwave Popcorn
Corn, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Minute Maid Company — Premium Juice Blend
Fructose, Corn, Lemon, Blueberry, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Del Monte, Fruit Burst, Squeezers, Peach, Mango
Pear, Pumpkin, Peach, Carrot, Mango, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Tennessee Smokehouse BBQ Rub
Chili Pepper, Black Pepper, Paprika, Mustard, Garlic, Onion, Cane Sugar, Corn, Sunflower, Yeast (Baker's), Barley, Malt, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market — Marinara Sauce
Tomato, Citric Acid, Basil, Onion, Olive, Garlic, Oregano, Black Pepper
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
Sesame, Canola/Rapeseed, Lemon, Citric Acid, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Starbucks Coffee Company — Holiday Sour Gummies, Pear, Pomegranate & Apple
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Turmeric
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kellogg Company Us — Kellogg's Other Licensed Fruit Pieces Blaze 8oz
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Banana Fountain & Shake Syrup, 1 Gal Jugs, 1 Gal
Cane Sugar, Corn, Banana, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Act Ii Kettle Corn, 8.25 Oz
Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Nabisco Cameo Crme Lunchbox Cookies 1x1.9 Oz
Wheat, Cane Sugar, Soybean, Canola/Rapeseed, Whey, Cow's Milk, Lecithin (Soy), Citric Acid, Coumarin/Vanillin
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Diet Mug Root Beer 12 Fl Oz Can Single
Aspartame, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Minute Maid Jtg Peach Mango (nectar) Bottle, 12 Fl Oz
Apple, Pear, Fructose, Corn, Mango, Peach, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Sauce with Garlic & Onion
Tomato, Garlic, Fructose, Corn, Onion, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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