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 143 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Pepsico — Diet Pepsi Cola 2 Liter Plastic Bottle
Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Brisk Lemon Iced Tea 2 Liter Plastic Bottle
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Tea, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Blue Sky Zero Cherry Vanilla Can, 12 Fl Oz
Citric Acid, Corn
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Honest Mango White Tea Glass Bottle, 16 Fl Oz
Tea, Cane Sugar, Mango, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Nonfat Yogurt Greek
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Strawberry, Fructose, Corn, Carrot, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — SPICY THREE PEPPER HUMMUS, SPICY THREE PEPPER
Soybean, Sesame, Garlic, Chili Pepper, Capsaicin, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — COTTAGE CHEESE
Cottage Cheese, Cow's Milk, Whey, Carrageenan, Carob, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Mccormick, Grill Mates, Seasoning, Mojito Lime
Cane Sugar, Chili Pepper, Capsaicin, Mint/Menthol, Garlic, Onion, Orange, Citric Acid, Lime
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-van Camp — Electrolyte Water Beverage
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Sour Lemonade Rings
Cane Sugar, Tapioca, Corn, Citric Acid, Cabbage, Turmeric, Lemon, Strawberry
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Diet Pepsi Cola 16 Fluid Ounce Plastic Bottle
Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Kids Soft Candy Kids Fat Freevalentines Day1x2 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 |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Lawry's, Taco Seasoning Mix
Paprika, Chili Pepper, Onion, Garlic, Potato, Wheat, Cocoa, Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Ocean Spray, Wave, Juice Drink, Mango, Pineapple with Apple White Cranberries
Cane Sugar, Beet, Apple, Cranberry, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Monster Energy Company — Peace Tea, Iced Tea, Razzleberry
Tea, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Minute Maid Company — Premium Fruit Punch
Fructose, Corn, Grape, Pineapple, Pear, Apple, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Tangerine Italian Soda, Tangerine
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Carrot
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods, Llc — Tropical Fruit Blend Pineapple, Bananas, Mango, and Dragon Fruit, Tropical Fruit Blend with Dragon Fruit
Pineapple, Banana, Mango, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Elderberry-flavored Cereal Puffs with Organic Strawberry-filled Crisp Pillows, Elderberry
Rice, Corn, Strawberry, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Oat, Carrot, Blueberry, Yogurt, Rosemary
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Cherry Topping, Wide-mouth Jugs, 123.4 Oz
Cherry, Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Diced Green Chiles - #2.5 Can, 27 Oz
Chili Pepper, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Pepsi Lipton — Lemon Real Brewed Tea, Lemon
Tea, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Hunts Fire Roasted Garlic Tomatoes, 14.5 Oz
Tomato, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Orville Redenbachers Movie Theater Butter Popcorn, 3.3 Oz
Corn, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Muir Glen Organic Black Bean and Corn Salsa
Tomato, Onion, Corn, Chili Pepper, Lime, Garlic, Coriander/Cilantro, Citric Acid, Cumin, Black Pepper
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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