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 144 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Yoplait Light Blueberry Patch Fat Free Yogurt
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Whey, Blueberry, Corn, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Diet Coke Ginger Lime Bottle, 2 Liters
Aspartame, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid, Caffeine
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — Prego Sauces Sausage
Tomato, Pork, Garlic, Onion, Cane Sugar, Canola/Rapeseed, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Petite-cut Tomatoes
Tomato, Fructose, Corn, Onion, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods Company — Mandarin Oranges in 100% Fruit Juice
Orange, Grape, Lemon, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Tomatoes with Garlic & Capers
Tomato, Sunflower, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Siete — Tortilla Chips
Tapioca, Avocado, Coconut, Citric Acid, Lime
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Hunts Whole Peeled Tomatoes
Tomato, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Campbell Soup Company — V8 Beverage Hot & Spicy Vegetable
Tomato, Carrot, Celery, Beet, Parsley, Lettuce, Spinach, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Fanta Orange Soda Cans, 7.5 Fl Oz, 6 Pack
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Swedish Fish Soft Candy Tropical Fat Free1x3.5 Oz
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — SHARKLEBERRY FIN STRAWBERRY ORANGE PUNCH JAMMERS FLAVORED DRINK, SHARKLEBERRY FIN STRAWBERRY ORANGE PUNCH
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Orange, Pineapple, Strawberry
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Monster Energy Company — Hansen's, Ginger Ale Cane Soda, Ginger
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Vanilla, Ginger
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Cedar's Mediterranean Foods, Inc. — Hommus
Sunflower, Olive, Sesame, Garlic, Tomato, Citric Acid, Chili Pepper, Onion
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Market Pantry — Extra Butter Microwave Popcorn
Corn, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Del Monte, Pineapple Juice Drink, Orange
Pineapple, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Marsh Supermarkets, Llc — Stewed Tomatoes
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Onion, Celery, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hormel Foods Corporation — Smooth & Spicy Picante
Tomato, Solanine, Onion, Chili Pepper, Capsaicin, Citric Acid, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Tropical Fruit Salad Pineapple & Red & Yellow Papaya Chunks in Pineapple & Passion Fruit 100% Juices
Pineapple, Papaya, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Tribe Mediterranean Foods, Inc. — Spicy Red Pepper Hummus, Spicy Red Pepper
Sesame, Canola/Rapeseed, Garlic, Citric Acid, Chili Pepper, Capsaicin, Solanine
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Starbucks Coffee Company — Vanilla Syrup, Vanilla
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Trappey's, Jalapinto, Pinto Beans, Slab Bacon, Slab Bacon
Pinto Bean, Chili Pepper, Capsaicin, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Pork, Cane Sugar, Black Pepper, Onion
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Cracked Pepper Sunflower Seeds, Cracked Pepper
Sunflower, Black Pepper, Onion, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Minute Maid Company — PEACH JUICE DRINK, PEACH
Corn, Fructose, Peach, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Red Bull North America, Inc. — Energy Drink, Blueberry
Cane Sugar, Fructose, Citric Acid, Caffeine, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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