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.
7,950
Products Found
38.4%
Of All Products
210
Low Risk (0-2)
6,654
High Risk (5+)
Risk Distribution
How products containing Citric Acid break down by total trigger count:
210
2.6%
Low Risk (0-2 triggers)
1,086
13.7%
Moderate (3-4 triggers)
6,654
83.7%
High Risk (5+ triggers)
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 129 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Southwest Ranch Chicken Street Taco Seasoning Mix, Southwest Ranch Chicken
Cow's Milk, Garlic, Corn, Black Pepper, Parsley, Dill, Celery, Onion, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle Waters North America Inc. — Iced Tea, Sweet Tea
Fructose, Corn, Tea, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Indeprndent Prodecers for the Pepsi/lipton Tea Partnership. — Diet Brisk, Iced Tea Lemon Flavor with Other Natural Flavor, Lemon Flavor with Other Natural Flavor, Lemon Flavor with Other Natural Flavor
Citric Acid, Tea, Benzoic Acid, Aspartame, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Hunts Diced Tomatoes with Basil Garlic and Oregano, 14.5 Oz
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Basil, Oregano, Parsley, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Red Bull North America, Inc. — Energy Drink, Cranberry
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Caffeine
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Banquet Brown N Serve Original Patty, 24.9 Oz
Pork, Turkey, Soybean, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Fruits Soft Candy Bulk Fat Free6x5.000 Lb
Cane Sugar, Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Sierra Mist Lemon Lime Caffeine Free Soda 7.5 Fluid Ounce Can-ia
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Philadelphia Sensations Deliciously Whipped Cream Cheese-whipped Black & Green Olives
Cow's Milk, Whey, Olive, Sunflower, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Good Humor-breyers Ice Cream — Popsicle, Big Stick, Ice Pops, Cherry-pineapple Swirl, Naturally and Artificially Flavored
Fructose, Corn, Cane Sugar, Pineapple, Cherry, Citric Acid, Turmeric
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle Waters North America Inc. — Real Brewed Black Tea & Rooibos
Tea, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Snack Pack Gel Strawberry, 13 Oz
Cane Sugar, Apple, Carrageenan, Citric Acid, Carob, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Act Ii Buttery Kettle Corn, 8.25 Oz
Corn, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
PROBIOTICS & FIBER STRAWBERRY BANANA DRINKABLE YOGURT
Yogurt, Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Strawberry, Banana, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Monster Energy Company — Peace Tea, Pink Lemonade Ice Tea, Lemonade
Tea, Cane Sugar, Apple, Lemon, Citric Acid, Grape
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — 365 Everyday Value, Cantina Style Salsa
Tomato, Onion, Coriander/Cilantro, Chili Pepper, Capsaicin, Cumin, Citric Acid, Garlic, Celery, Lime, Solanine
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Art — Gel Snacks
Cane Sugar, Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Frito-Lay Company — MEDIUM SALSA VERDE MADE WITH REAL TOMATILLOS, MEDIUM
Solanine, Onion, Chili Pepper, Capsaicin, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-van Camp — Prime Perform Recover
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Lemon, Basil & Thyme Key West Style Seasoning, Lemon, Basil & Thyme
Cane Sugar, Lemon, Basil, Thyme, Celery, Parsley, Garlic, Onion, Corn, Citric Acid, Turmeric
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mott's Llp — Pina Colada Mix
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Lowfat Yogurt Drink Vitamin D 1.5% Milkfat
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Minute Maid Company — Athenos, Hummus Original
Sesame, Sunflower, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Medium Heat Organic Firehouse Chili, Medium
Tomato, Solanine, Citric Acid, Kidney Bean, Navy Bean, Corn, Onion, Potato, Celery, Chili Pepper, Capsaicin, Garlic, Cumin, Black Pepper, Oregano
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Minute Maid Company — Premium Juice Blend, Mango Punch
Fructose, Corn, Mango, Apple, Pear, Pineapple, Citric Acid, Turmeric
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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