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 140 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Whole Foods Market — Spicy Falafel with Tahini
Onion, Parsley, Coriander/Cilantro, Garlic, Chili Pepper, Black Pepper, Canola/Rapeseed, Sesame, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Market Pantry — Diced Pears Bartlett Pears Packed in Light Syrup
Pear, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nabisco Food Company — 39% Vegetable Oil Spread
Soybean, Lecithin (Soy), Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Oven Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Basil, Garlic, Cane Sugar, Corn, Onion, Citric Acid, Grape, Solanine
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Cranberry Diet Juice Drink From Concentrate, Cranberry
Cranberry, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Sara Lee Foods — Hillshire Farm, Ultra Thin Oven Roasted Turkey Breast
Turkey, Corn, Carrageenan, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Caffeine Free Cola
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Conagra Brands — Hunt's Tomato Sauce, 29 Oz, 29 Oz
Tomato, Citric Acid, Onion, Garlic, Chili Pepper
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — Prego Sauces Garlic & Herb
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Canola/Rapeseed, Onion, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Swedish Fish Soft Candy Bulk Fat Free400x13.2 Lb
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Kids Soft Candy Red Fat Free1x5.000 Lb
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Kids Soft Candy Kids Festive1x1 Oz
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash 20 Fluid Ounce Plastic Bottle-ia
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Fanta Berry Soda Bottle, 2 Liters
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Coca-Cola USA Operations — MELLO YELLO, FLAVORED SODA, PEACH CITRUS, PEACH CITRUS
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Victoria Amory & Co. Llc — Victoria Amory, Champagne Ketchup
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Grape, Corn, Olive, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Mandarin Oranges in Water
Orange, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Conagra Brands — Rotel Diced No Salt Added Tomatoes, 10 Oz
Tomato, Chili Pepper, Citric Acid, Coriander/Cilantro
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Blue Bonnet Light Sticks, 16 Oz
Soybean, Lecithin (Soy), Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Brisk Lemon Iced Tea 1 Liter Plastic Bottle
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Tea, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Newman's Own, Inc. — Fire Roasted Tomato & Garlic Pasta Sauce
Tomato, Citric Acid, Olive, Garlic, Onion
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. — Flynn's, Diet Soda Mix, Orange Cream
Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #6, Tapioca
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Tahitian Vanilla Blended Greek Yogurt
Yogurt, Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Sara Lee Foods — Turkey Sausage Links
Turkey, Citric Acid, Cane Sugar, Corn
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream Inc. — Edy's, Outshine, Fruit Ice Bar, Strawberry
Strawberry, Cane Sugar, Carob, Citric Acid, Beet, Turmeric
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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