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 148 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Monster Energy Company — Hansen's, Premium Diet Soda, Creamy Root Beer
Vanilla, Coumarin/Vanillin, Citric Acid, Salicylic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Dannon, Oikos, Greek Frozen Yogurt, Strawberry
Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Strawberry, Corn, Yogurt, Carob, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Starbucks Coffee Company — Classic Syrup
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Smoothie Orange Cream
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Corn, Whey, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Tomato Juice
Tomato, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Mott's Llp — Ibc, Root Beer
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle Waters North America Inc. — Organic Slightly Sweet Green Tea
Tea, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods, Llc — Pineapple Chunks in 100% Pineapple Juice
Pineapple, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Nestle USA Inc. — Medium Original Taco Sauce, Medium Original
Tomato, Corn, Paprika, Citric Acid, Chili Pepper, Benzoic Acid, Onion
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Oscar Mayer Foods Corp. — Half Sours Wholes Pickle
Cucumber, Garlic, Citric Acid, Mustard, Chili Pepper, Polysorbate 80
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Apple Jelly, Apple
Apple, Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Unilever Bestfoods North America — Roasted Garlic Sauce, Roasted Garlic
Canola/Rapeseed, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Corn, Citric Acid, Lemon
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Starbucks Coffee Company — Caramel Syrup, Caramel
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Conagra Brands — Odoms Tennessee Pride Fresh Patties, 12 Oz
Pork, Cane Sugar, Rosemary, MSG, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Orville Redenbachers All in One Popcorn, 5 Oz
Corn, Sunflower, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kellogg Company Us — Kellogg's Other Licensed Fruit Pieces Power Ranger .8oz
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Sobe Life Water Pomegranate Nectarine with Cocnut Water 20foz Pl Bot
Cane Sugar, Coconut, Citric Acid, Carrot
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Pure Leaf Raspberry Iced Tea 18.5 Fluid Ounce Plastic Bottle
Tea, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Caffeine
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Diet Coke Twisted Mango Can, 12 Fl Oz
Aspartame, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid, Caffeine
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Philadelphia Cream Cheese-single Serve Light
Cow's Milk, Carrageenan, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ritz Crackers Cheese and Onion
Potato, Sodium Metabisulfite, Corn, Sunflower, Wheat, Cane Sugar, Cow's Milk, Onion, Canola/Rapeseed, Oat, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Napolean — Artichoke Tapenade
Sunflower, Grape, Onion, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle Waters North America Inc. — Nestea, Red Tea, Pomegranate Passionfruit
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Tribe Mediterranean Foods, Inc. — Buffalo Style Hummus, Buffalo Style
Chili Pepper, Garlic, Canola/Rapeseed, Sesame, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
STRAWBERRY SOUR CANDY STICKS
Cane Sugar, Corn, Wheat, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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