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 161 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Nestle USA Inc. — STRAWBERRY MILK BEVERAGE, STRAWBERRY
Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Strawberry, Carrageenan, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #3
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Raspberry Topping, Wide-mouth Jugs, 122 Oz
Raspberry, Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Carob, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Act Ii Buttery Popcorn Oil, 128 Oz
Soybean, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
ASSORTED FLAVORS GELATIN
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Roma Style Tomatoes
Tomato, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — ICED TEA, PEACH
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Tea, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The J.M. Smucker Company — STRAWBERRY TOPPING, STRAWBERRY
Strawberry, Corn, Fructose, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — SPARKLING ICED TEA, PEACH
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Tea, Caffeine, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — CLASSIC PEPPERONI
Pork, Beef, Corn, Paprika, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Ocean Spray, 100% Juice, Cranberry, Blueberry, Blackberry
Grape, Apple, Cranberry, Blueberry, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Cape Cod Potato Chips Inc. — Cape Cod, Seaside Pop, Flavored Popcorn, Roasted Black Garlic
Corn, Sunflower, Tapioca, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Citric Acid, Yeast (Baker's)
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle Waters North America Inc. — Tradewinds, Slow Brewed Iced Tea, Raspberry
Tea, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle — Splash
Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Carne Asada Seasoning, Carne Asada
Garlic, Cumin, Oregano, Chili Pepper, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Yeast (Baker's), Paprika
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Gatorade — Thirst Quencher Powder
Cane Sugar, Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico, Inc. (cytosport) — Strawberry Banana Flavor Smoothie Yogurt Protein Shake, Strawberry Banana
Yogurt, Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Whey, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods, Llc — Mixed Fruit in Fruit Juice
Grape, Pineapple, Peach, Pear, Cane Sugar, Lemon, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — Prego Spicy Marinara Pasta Sauce, 24 OZ Jar
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Onion, Canola/Rapeseed, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-van Camp — Thirst Quencher, Fruit Punch
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Glycerin/Glycerol
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — La Choy Chop Suey Vegetables, 28 Ounce, 28 Oz
Celery, Onion, Carrot, Cane Sugar, MSG, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Banquet Beef Sausage Links, 6.4 Oz
Beef, Soybean, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Act Ii Extra Movie Butter, 33.016 Oz
Corn, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Gold Peak Diet Tea Bottle, 64 Fl Oz
Tea, Citric Acid, Aspartame
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Diet Coke Kosher Bottle, 2 Liters
Aspartame, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid, Caffeine
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dairylea Processed Cheese-portions Regular 125.000 Gr
Cow's Milk, Whey, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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