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 186 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Carne Asada Seasoning
Garlic, Cumin, Oregano, Chili Pepper, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Yeast (Baker's), Paprika
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nabisco Food Company — Hot & Spicy Cashews, Hot & Spicy
Cashew, Peanut, Corn, Garlic, Onion, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Cape Cod Potato Chips Inc. — Cape Cod, Kettle Cooked Potato Chips, Sea Salt & Vinegar, Sea Salt & Vinegar
Potato, Canola/Rapeseed, Corn, Citric Acid, Cane Sugar, Apple
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kellogg Company Us — Kellogg's Fruit Pieces Non-licensed Berry Sours .7oz
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Angela Mia Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes, #10 Can, 6/102 Oz., 102 Oz
Tomato, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-van Camp — Thirst Quencher, Watermelon Mist
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — Prego Sauces Italian
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Onion, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Yoplait Original Strawberry Low Fat Yogurt
Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Yogurt
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Mtn Dew Livewire Orange Soda 20 Fluid Ounce Plastic Bottle
Corn, Fructose, Orange, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40, Soybean
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Hubert's Lemonade Strawberry Glass Bottle, 16 Fl Oz
Lemon, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hormel Foods Corporation — Pepperoni Bites
Pork, Beef, Paprika, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Engine 2, Plant-strong, Red Bell Pepper Marinara Pasta Sauce
Tomato, Citric Acid, Carrot, Onion, Sweet Potato, Garlic, Parsley
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — PULL 'N' PEEL CANDY, CHERRYQ
Corn, Wheat, Cane Sugar, Glycerin/Glycerol, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nabisco Food Company — Planters, Fruit & Nut Trail Mix
Peanut, Grape, Banana, Cane Sugar, Cashew, Pineapple, Coconut, Cranberry, Citric Acid, Sodium Metabisulfite
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods, Llc — Mango Sauce with Pieces of Pineapple
Pineapple, Mango, Tapioca, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Boar's Head Provision Co., Inc. — Boar's Head, Pepperoni
Pork, Beef, Paprika, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Newman's Own, Inc. — Tomato & Basil Pasta Sauce
Tomato, Citric Acid, Olive, Cane Sugar, Onion, Basil, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Ocean Spray, Cran-mango, Juice Drink, Cranberry Mango
Cane Sugar, Beet, Cranberry, Mango, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
M, Orange Soda
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle Waters North America Inc. — Nestea, Iced Tea, Raspberry
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Tea, Caffeine, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hormel Foods Corporation — Thick Slice Pepperoni
Pork, Beef, Paprika, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Asmar's Mediterranean Foods Inc. — Baba Ghannouj Eggplant Dip
Eggplant, Sesame, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Sara Lee Foods — Honey Roasted Turkey Breast
Turkey, Honey, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Tribe Mediterranean Foods, Inc. — Classic Hummus, Classic
Sesame, Canola/Rapeseed, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Diced Tomatoes with Garlic & Onion, Garlic & Onion
Tomato, Fructose, Corn, Onion, Garlic, Sesame, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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