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 182 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Conagra Brands — Healthy Choice Simply Organic Cheese Tortellini, 9 Oz
Wheat, Cow's Milk, Tapioca, Whey, Carrageenan, Cane Sugar, Yeast (Baker's), Egg White, Egg Yolk, Tomato, Citric Acid, Onion, Garlic, Corn, Basil, Oregano, Black Pepper, Spinach, Mushroom
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Amp Energy Boost Original Citrus Sugar Free 16 Fluid Ounce Can
Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
IMPORTED ASSORTED FRUIT STARS
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Apple, Pumpkin, Carrot
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Diet Lipton White Tea Raspberry (16.9 Fl Oz - 12) 202.8 Fluid Ounce 12 Pack Plastic Bottle
Citric Acid, Tea, Aspartame
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Swedish Fish Assorted Soft Candy Assorted Fat Free8x8 Oz
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Crushed with Roasted Garlic in Tomato Puree
Tomato, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Stubb's, Injectable All-natural Marinade, Texas Butter
Honey, Mustard, Paprika, Onion, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Soybean, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Diced Tomatoes with Italian Herbs
Tomato, Basil, Oregano, Thyme, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Mccormick, Gourmet, Sriracha Seasoning
Paprika, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Citric Acid, Corn, Chili Pepper, Capsaicin
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Adolph's, Prime Cut, Pork Marinade Mix
Cane Sugar, Garlic, Paprika, Ginger, Tea, Lemon, Corn, Onion, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Mixed Fruit
Peach, Pear, Cherry, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Lipton, Liquid Iced Black Tea Mix, Black Cherry Dragonfruit Flavor with Other Natural Flavor, Black Cherry Dragonfruit Flavor with Other Natural Flavor
Tea, Glycerin/Glycerol, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Sodium Metabisulfite, Carrot
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Rotel Mild Resealable Jar, 15 Oz
Tomato, Chili Pepper, Citric Acid, Corn
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — 5 FLAVORS HARD CANDY, CHERRY, PINEAPPLE, WATERMELON, ORANGE, RASPBERRY
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Surge Can, 12 Fl Oz
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Orange, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, Carob, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Danimals Smoothie Max
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Corn, Whey, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Fresh Produce N.a., Inc. — Fruit Fiz Sparkling Water Beverage
Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Aspartame
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Wholesome Sweeteners, Inc. — Organic Frosting
Cane Sugar, Tapioca, Corn, Vanilla, Sunflower, Soybean, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Nonfat Yogurt Vitamin a & D
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cherry, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Del Monte, Pineapple Tidbits
Pineapple, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle USA Inc. — Mexican Style Instant Hot Chocolate Mix
Cane Sugar, Cow's Milk, Coconut, Soybean, Corn, Cocoa, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle Waters North America Inc. — Nestea, Liquid Water Enhancer, Iced Tea with Cherry Passionfruit
Citric Acid, Tea
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Nabisco Food Company — Planters, Trail Mix, Fruit & Nut Mix
Peanut, Grape, Banana, Cane Sugar, Cashew, Pineapple, Coconut, Cranberry, Citric Acid, Sodium Metabisulfite
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Post Foods, Llc — Sports Drink Mix
Corn, Fructose, Whey, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid, Turmeric
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle USA Inc. — Juice Beverage From Concentrate
Apple, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
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