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 150 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
SO DELICIOUS DAIRY FREE — OATMILK CREAMER, OATMILK
Oat, Cane Sugar, Coconut, Citric Acid, Tapioca, Green Pea
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Monster Energy Company — Hubert's, Lemonade, Watermelon Habanero
Cane Sugar, Lemon, Citric Acid, Watermelon, Chili Pepper, Capsaicin
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Clearly Organic, Organic Caesar Croutons
Wheat, Sunflower, Safflower, Rye, Yeast (Baker's), Cane Sugar, Garlic, Onion, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Market Pantry — Microwave Kettle Corn Popcorn
Corn, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Trader Joe's, Green Chiles, Fre Roasted, Diced
Chili Pepper, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Starbucks Coffee Company — Flavoured Syrup
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Pineapple Chunks in 100% Juice
Pineapple, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Dole Packaged Foods, Llc — Peaches in Strawberry Flavored Gel, Strawberry
Peach, Cane Sugar, Carrageenan, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-van Camp — Smooth Finish Flow Thirst Quencher
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Blue #1, Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Starbucks Coffee Company — Caramel Flavored Syrup, Caramel
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Welch's — Concord Grape Flavored Sparkling Drink Mix, Concord Grape
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Grape, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Greek Nonfat Yogurt, Peach
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Peach, Fructose, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Hunts Stewed Tomatoes No Salt Added, 14.5 Oz
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Onion, Celery, Solanine, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Yoplait USA — Yoplait, Light Fat Free Yogurt, Apple Fritter, Apple Fritter
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Apple, Corn, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Banquet Light Maple Links
Turkey, Pork, Soybean, Corn, Cane Sugar, Maple Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — V8 Beverage Vegetable-low Sodium
Tomato, Carrot, Celery, Beet, Parsley, Lettuce, Spinach, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mur Gln Crushed Tom Basil
Tomato, Basil, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
RAYGE CANDY & NUTS CANDY BLOX, 5 OZ
Corn, Citric Acid, Blue #1, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Nabisco Cameo Crme Cookies 1x14.5 Oz
Wheat, Cane Sugar, Soybean, Canola/Rapeseed, Whey, Cow's Milk, Lecithin (Soy), Citric Acid, Coumarin/Vanillin
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Diet Coke Can, 7.5 Fl Oz
Aspartame, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid, Caffeine
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Hansen's Diet Tangerine Lime Can, 12 Fl Oz
Citric Acid, Lime
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Philadelphia Handi-snacks Cream Cheese-snack
Cow's Milk, Carrageenan, Citric Acid, Wheat, Coconut, Barley, Malt, Yeast (Baker's)
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Gold Peak Raspberry Tea Bottle, 16.9 Fl Oz
Tea, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hormel Foods Corporation — Mild Thick & Chunky Salsa
Tomato, Citric Acid, Onion, Chili Pepper, Corn, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — NONFAT COTTAGE CHEESE
Cottage Cheese, Cow's Milk, Whey, Citric Acid, Carrageenan, Polysorbate 80
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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