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 173 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Hershey Mexico, S.A. De C.V. — PELON, PALE ROCK! HARD CANDY LOLLIPOP, WATERMELON, WATERMELON
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Chili Pepper, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Arboleda Food Products Llc — Spice-o-mize It! Fresh Green Tomatillo Salsa
Onion, Coriander/Cilantro, Chili Pepper, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Sara Lee Foods — Sausage Patties
Turkey, Citric Acid, Cane Sugar, Corn
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Sara Lee Foods — Beef Summer Sausage
Beef, Citric Acid, Mustard
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Citrus Salad in Extra Light Syrup
Grapefruit, Orange, Cane Sugar, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Lipton, Liquid Iced Green Tea Mix, Raspberry Flavor with Other Natural Flavor, Raspberry Flavor with Other Natural Flavor
Tea, Glycerin/Glycerol, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Carrot
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Jalapeno Hummus, Jalapeno
Sesame, Canola/Rapeseed, Chili Pepper, Citric Acid, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Tea of a Kind — Citrus Mint Green Real Brewed Tea, Citrus Mint Green
Tea, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Nestle Waters North America Inc. — Nestea, Liquid Water Enhancer, Iced Tea with Lemon, Lemon
Citric Acid, Tea, Lemon
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Kellogg Company — Assorted Fruit Flavored Snacks, Assorted
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Rotel Diced Chunky Tomatoes, 10 Oz
Tomato, Chili Pepper, Citric Acid, Coriander/Cilantro
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — LIVEWIRE SODA SPARKED WITH ORANGE, LIVEWIRE
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Act Ii Butter, 8.25 Oz
Corn, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Muir Glen Organic Diced Tomatoes, No Salt Added
Tomato, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
TURKEY HILL LEMONADE, ONE GALLON
Fructose, Corn, Cane Sugar, Lemon, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Diet Pepsi Caffeine Free Cola (6 - 24 Fluid Ounce) 144 Fluid Ounce 6 Pack Plastic Bottle
Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Fanta Green Apple Bottle, 20 Fl Oz
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Kids Soft Candy Tricksters Fat Free1x5 Oz
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Fanta Green Apple Cans, 7.5 Fl Oz, 6 Pack
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Hubert's Lemonade Strawberry Glass Bottle, 40 Fl Oz
Lemon, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Parsley Herbs Spices
Parsley, Corn, Whey, Cow's Milk, Canola/Rapeseed, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Lawry's, Sloppy Joe Seasoning Mix
Cane Sugar, Onion, Corn, Chili Pepper, Paprika, Citric Acid, Soybean
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Fruit & Chia
Peach, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico, Inc. (cytosport) — Blueberry Flavor Yogurt Protein Shake Smoothie, Blueberry
Yogurt, Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Whey, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods Company — Fruit & Veggie Blends
Mango, Orange, Pineapple, Banana, Sweet Potato, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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