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 175 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — EDIBLE GRASS LIME GELATIN MIX, EDIBLE GRASS LIME
Cane Sugar, Beef, Pork, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Terrapin Ridge Farms LLC — HORSERADISH SAUCE, HORSERADISH
Soybean, Corn, Egg Yolk, Mustard, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — ALL PINK STRAWBERRY FRUIT CHEWS, ALL PINK
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Tapioca, Apple, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — SMOOTHIE MAX
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Corn, Whey, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
SOUR APPLE MARTINI COCKTAIL MIX
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Metabisulfite, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — SODA, PEACH
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — GARLIC & HERB PASTA SAUCE, GARLIC & HERB
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Canola/Rapeseed, Garlic, Onion, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — PEACH MANGO GREEN TEA DRINK MIX, PEACH MANGO GREEN TEA
Citric Acid, Tea, Corn, Aspartame, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Stonyfield Farm Inc — Yokids Organic Squeezers
Cow's Milk, Whey, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Corn, Carob, Lemon, Citric Acid, Turmeric, Blueberry, Carrot
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Cranberry Apple Juice Drink
Cane Sugar, Cranberry, Apple, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Solecito Foods Llc — Zanamia, Juice Drink, Carrot & Pineapple
Cane Sugar, Corn, Carrot, Pineapple, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Gumdrops
Cane Sugar, Tapioca, Corn, Citric Acid, Cabbage, Turmeric, Paprika
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Califia Farms, Lp — Pure Almondmilk Blend
Almond, Coconut, Sunflower, Citric Acid, Carrageenan
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Green — Fresh Chopped Basil
Basil, Tapioca, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Lipton — Wish-bone, Salad Dressing, Balsamic Vinaigrette
Soybean, Olive, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Metabisulfite, Grape
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Minute Maid Company — Beverages
Fructose, Corn, Lemon, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Market Pantry — Mandarin Oranges Cups of Whole Fruit Segments Packed in Light Syrup
Orange, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Gatorade Frost Rain Berry Thirst Quencher 28 Fluid Ounce Plastic Bottle
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, Blue #1, Fructose
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mott's Llp — Watermelon Kiwi
Fructose, Corn, Pear, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Pasta Rings in Tomato Sauce
Tomato, Wheat, Cane Sugar, Corn, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid, Onion, Paprika, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Cranberry Mango Juice Drink From Concentrate, Cranberry Mango
Cane Sugar, Cranberry, Mango, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods, Llc — Diced Nectarines in 100% Fruit Juice
Grape, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Old El Paso Beef Barbacoa Slow Cooker Seasoning Mix
Corn, Onion, Garlic, Cumin, Chili Pepper, Paprika, Citric Acid, Canola/Rapeseed, Soybean, Cinnamon
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Hunts Diced Tomatoes with Green Pepper Celery and Onion, 14.5 Oz
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Onion, Celery, Citric Acid, Black Pepper, Garlic, Oregano
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Fruit Water, Peaches in Mango
Peach, Grape, Cane Sugar, Mango, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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