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 177 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Petite Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilies
Tomato, Chili Pepper, Onion, Citric Acid, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Coca-Cola USA Operations — SODA, GRAPE
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Monster Energy Company — Hubert's, Lemonade, Strawberry
Cane Sugar, Lemon, Citric Acid, Strawberry
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-van Camp — Gatorade, Thirst Quencher, Citrus Cooler
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Gatorade Firerce Melon Thirst Quencher 20 Fluid Ounce Bottle
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — PRG RSTD GAR PARM 24OZ
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Canola/Rapeseed, Garlic, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
MINUTE MAID TROPICAL PUNCH JUG, 128 FL OZ
Fructose, Corn, Pineapple, Orange, Grape, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods, Llc — Mandarin Oranges
Orange, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Danone, Dairy Drink, Strawberry Fresa
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Fructose, Strawberry, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Starbucks Coffee Company — Organic Golden Amber Oolong Tea
Tea, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Marsh Supermarkets, Llc — Whole Mushrooms
Mushroom, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Spring Aloe Vera Juice Drink
Cane Sugar, Blueberry, Cranberry, Grape, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Tomato Basil Soup
Tomato, Citric Acid, Onion, Carrot, Corn, Cane Sugar, Basil, Garlic, Thyme
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Whipped Topping
Cow's Milk, Corn, Whey, Vanilla, Citric Acid, Polysorbate 80, Carrageenan
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream Inc. — Sunrise Blend Banana Based Non-dairy Frozen Fruit Blend, Sunrise Blend
Banana, Peach, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Carob, Lemon, Turmeric
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Trappey's, Jalapeno Navy Beans, Slab Bacon, Slab Bacon
Navy Bean, Chili Pepper, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Pork, Cane Sugar, Black Pepper, Onion
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kellogg Company Us — Kellogg's Fruit Pieces Non-licensed Citrus Sours .7oz
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kellogg Company Us — Kellogg's Fruit Pieces Disney Disney Frozen .8oz
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-van Camp — Cherry Endurance Formula Thirst Quencher Powder, Cherry
Cane Sugar, Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Organic — Apple & Cinnamon Instant Oatmeal, Apple & Cinnamon
Oat, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, Cinnamon
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Betty Crocker Angel Food Cake Mix
Cane Sugar, Wheat, Egg White, Corn, Citric Acid, Soybean
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Cherries Soft Candy Bulk Fat Free6x5.000 Lb
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Fanta Grape Soda Bottle, 20 Fl Oz
Fructose, Corn, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — V8 Beverage Tomato & Spice
Tomato, Carrot, Celery, Beet, Parsley, Lettuce, Spinach, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods Company — Strawberries, Peaches & Bananas
Strawberry, Peach, Banana, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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