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 170 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Hormel Foods Corporation — Beef Crumbles
Beef, Paprika, Onion, Garlic, Tomato, Citric Acid, Chili Pepper, Coriander/Cilantro
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ski — Lemon Orange Diet Caffeine Free Authentic Citrus Soda
Lemon, Orange, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Clif Bar and Company — Citrus Energy Chews, Citrus
Tapioca, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Sunflower
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kellogg Company Us — Kellogg Other Licensed Fruit Pieces Nascar .8oz
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Orville Ultra Butter Pop Up Bowl
Corn, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Foods, Inc. — Gourmet Popping Corn, Buttery
Corn, Citric Acid, Cow's Milk
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Angela Mia Whole Peeled Tomatoes, #10 Can, 6/102 Oz., 102 Oz
Tomato, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Conagra Brands — Act Ii Butter Lovers Popcorn Pantry Pack, 49.5 Oz
Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Campbell Soup Company — V8 Splash Beverage Cherry Pomegranate
Fructose, Corn, Carrot, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Old El Paso Medium Taco Sauce
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Garlic, Onion, Chili Pepper
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Pepsi Cola Caffeine Free 12 Fluid Ounce Aluminum Can
Fructose, Corn, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Kids Soft Candy Assorted Fruits Fat Free24x5 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 |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Diet Coke Ginger Lime Can, 12 Fl Oz
Aspartame, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid, Caffeine
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Triscuit Crackers Cracked Pepper and Olive Oil 1x12.5 Oz
Wheat, Canola/Rapeseed, Rice, Black Pepper, Onion, Garlic, Olive, Citric Acid, Celery
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Light Nonfat Greek Yogurt
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cherry, Corn, Fructose, Carrageenan, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Cadia, Organic Tomato Paste
Tomato, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Dannon, Danimals, Squeezables Lowfat Yogurt, Blueberry Pie
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Tapioca, Grape, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Diced Tomatoes No Salt Added
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Oregano, Citric Acid, Onion, Basil
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Topical Fruit Papaya & Pineapple in Lightly Sweetened Juice
Papaya, Pineapple, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills, Inc. — BUNNY FRUIT SNACKS, GRAPES GALORE
Tapioca, Cane Sugar, Pear, Citric Acid, Carrot, Sunflower
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Post Consumer Brands, LLC — BLUEBERRY WHEATFULS LIGHTLY SWEETENED WHOLE WHEAT CEREAL WITH NATURAL BLUEBERRY FLAVOR, BLUEBERRY WHEATFULS
Wheat, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1, Blue #2
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — ORIGINAL MACARONI & CHEESE TOPPING, ORIGINAL
Whey, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid, Paprika, Capsaicin, Turmeric
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Yoplait USA — VANILLA BEAN CREME DESSERT, VANILLA BEAN
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Corn, Vanilla, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Gatorade Frost Riptide Rush Thirst Quencher 32 Fluid Ounce Plastic Bottle
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — SWEET STORYBOOK HARD CANDY, SWEET STORYBOOK
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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