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 176 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Conagra Brands — Act Ii Butter Lovers, 11.28 Oz
Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Conagra Brands — Banquet Brown N Serve Turkey Sausage Patties, 6.4 Oz
Turkey, Soybean, Corn, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Coca-cola Cherry Zero Bottle, 20 Fl Oz
Aspartame, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid, Caffeine
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Gold Peak Lemon Sweetened Tea Bottle, 18.5 Fl Oz
Tea, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Bassetts Classics Candy Pear
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Gold Peak Diet Tea Bottle, 18.5 Fl Oz
Tea, Citric Acid, Aspartame
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Rao's Specialty Foods Inc. — Rao's, Homemade, Roasted Peppers with Golden Raisins & Pine Nuts
Citric Acid, Canola/Rapeseed, Grape, Cane Sugar, Olive, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — STRAWBERRY ORANGE BANANA DRINK MIX PITCHER PACKETS, STRAWBERRY ORANGE BANANA
Citric Acid, Aspartame, Corn, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Napoleon Co. — Napoleon, Fire Roasted Sliced Red Peppers
Cane Sugar, Fructose, Citric Acid, Solanine
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Minute Maid Kiwi Strawberry (nc) Bottle, 20 Fl Oz
Fructose, Corn, Pear, Strawberry, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, Benzoic Acid, Cane Sugar, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Napoleon Co. — Sweet Pepper Tapenade
Chili Pepper, Sunflower, Onion, Garlic, Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Cia. Topo Chico, S.a. — Topo Chico, Carbonated Beverage, Pineapple
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods Company — Melon Medley in 100% Fruit Juice
Grape, Pineapple, Watermelon, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Sara Lee Foods — Jimmy Dean, Turkey Sausage Links
Turkey, Soybean, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle Waters North America Inc. — Green Tea with Honey, Iced Tea
Tea, Cane Sugar, Honey, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Sara Lee Foods — Jimmy Dean, Pork Sausage Patties
Pork, Corn, Cane Sugar, MSG, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Mango Chunks in Extra Light Syrup
Mango, Cane Sugar, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Tea of a Kind — Peach Ginger Black Real Brewed Tea
Tea, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Conagra Brands — Orville Tender White Pop Up Bowl
Corn, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Cape Cod Potato Chips Inc. — Kettle Cooked Potato Chips, Sea Salt & Vinegar
Potato, Canola/Rapeseed, Safflower, Sunflower, Corn, Citric Acid, Cane Sugar, Apple
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Angela Mia Whole Peeled Pear Tomatoes with Basil, #10 Can, 6/102 Oz.
Tomato, Basil, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez International, Inc. — WATERMELON BITES SOFT & CHEWS CANDY, WATERMELON
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Swedish Fish Assorted Soft Candy Eggs Fat Freeeaster12x9.500 Oz
Cane Sugar, Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Kids Soft Candy Tropical Fat Free1x1.9 Lb
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Philadelphia Cream Cheese-soft Chives Light 170 Gr
Cow's Milk, Carrageenan, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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