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.
7,950
Products Found
38.4%
Of All Products
210
Low Risk (0-2)
6,654
High Risk (5+)
Risk Distribution
How products containing Citric Acid break down by total trigger count:
210
2.6%
Low Risk (0-2 triggers)
1,086
13.7%
Moderate (3-4 triggers)
6,654
83.7%
High Risk (5+ triggers)
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 174 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Newman's Own, Inc. — Newman's Own, All Natural Pasta Sauce, Mushroom Marinara
Tomato, Citric Acid, Mushroom, Cane Sugar, Soybean, Olive, Onion, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Newman's Own, Inc. — Marinara Pasta Sauce
Tomato, Citric Acid, Cane Sugar, Olive, Onion, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Cedar's Mediterranean Foods, Inc. — Cedar's, Organic Smoky Chipotle Hommus
Sunflower, Olive, Sesame, Garlic, Tomato, Citric Acid, Chili Pepper, Onion, Paprika
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Califia Farms, Lp — Califia Farms, Cold Brew Coffee with Almondmilk, Salted Caramel
Coffee, Caffeine, Almond, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Sunflower
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — VANILLA ZERO SUGAR COLA, VANILLA
Aspartame, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, Citric Acid, Vanilla, Corn
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Heinz Frozen Food Company — Homestyle Wedges
Potato, Sunflower, Canola/Rapeseed, Soybean, Olive, Garlic, Corn, Citric Acid, Cane Sugar, Yeast (Baker's)
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Fruit Spread
Corn, Fructose, Sodium Metabisulfite, Strawberry, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Barilla G & R F.lli S.p.a. — Traditional Sauce, Traditional
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Onion, Basil, Olive, Citric Acid, Oregano
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods Company — Pineapple Chunks in 100% Pineapple Juice
Pineapple, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Dole Packaged Foods, Llc — Fruit Snacks, Orange, Orange
Peach, Papaya, Cane Sugar, Orange, Carrageenan, Citric Acid, Sodium Metabisulfite
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Lemon & Herb Seasoning, Lemon & Herb
Paprika, Celery, Chili Pepper, Bay Leaf, Citric Acid, Corn, Lemon
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Del Monte, Tropical Fruit Salad
Pineapple, Papaya, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — Fiesta Mixed Vegetables with Plant-based Be'f Crumble in a Creamy & Smoky Plant-based Queso Pepper Bowl, Fiesta
Squash, Olive, Onion, Lime, Chili Pepper, Potato, Corn, Garlic, Yeast (Baker's), Lemon, Canola/Rapeseed, Cumin, Paprika, Turmeric, Citric Acid, Soybean, Cane Sugar, Broccoli, Cauliflower
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — CRISPY CROWNS SHREDDED, FORMED POTATOES, CRISPY CROWNS
Potato, Canola/Rapeseed, Soybean, Sunflower, Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle Waters North America Inc. — Iced Tea, Raspberry
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Tea, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Diet Coke Bottles, 16.9 Fl Oz, 6 Pack
Aspartame, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid, Caffeine
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — Campbell's Beverage Tomato-low Sodium
Tomato, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction / Testing Required |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Fanta Apple Soda Can, 12 Fl Oz
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Philadelphia Cream Cheese-soft Garlic and Herbs Light 170 Gr
Cow's Milk, Garlic, Carrageenan, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Kids Soft Candy Zombie Fat Free1x3.5 Oz
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Sahara Cuisine — Whole Foods Market, Sweet Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
Citric Acid, Sesame, Lemon, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Organic Jumbo Green Olives
Olive, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — S&w, Premium Petite-cut Tomatoes Diced in Rich Juice
Tomato, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Mccormick, Bag 'n Season, Original Chicken Cooking Bag & Seasoning Mix
Corn, Potato, Onion, Garlic, Paprika, Black Pepper, Turmeric, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Foods-Snack Foods Group — TURKEY SMOKED SNACK STICK, ORIGINAL
Turkey, Corn, Cane Sugar, Soybean, Citric Acid, Paprika
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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