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 194 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Stewed Tomatoes Sliced with Onions, Celery & Bell Peppers
Tomato, Fructose, Corn, Onion, Celery, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Banza Llc — Elbows with White Cheddar
Tapioca, Green Pea, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Orville Redenbachers Ultimate Butter Popcorn, 17.41 Oz
Corn, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-Van Camp — LEMON-LIME + STRAWBERRY THIRST QUENCHER
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Gold Peak Lemon Sweetened Tea Bottle, 64 Fl Oz
Tea, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Clif Bar and Company — Clif, Organic Trail Mix Bar, Dark Chocolate Pomegranate Raspberry
Almond, Cane Sugar, Cashew, Citric Acid, Cocoa, Lecithin (Soy), Lemon, Raspberry, Rice, Soybean, Sunflower, Tapioca, Vanilla
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Mango Habanero Wings Seasoning Mix
Cane Sugar, Paprika, Chili Pepper, Corn, Onion, Citric Acid, Garlic, Fructose, Lime, Rosemary
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Mango Nectar
Cane Sugar, Mango, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Clif Bar and Company — Blocks Energy Chews
Tapioca, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Carrot, Sunflower
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hormel Foods Corporation — Tinga De Pollo, White Meat Chicken in Chipotle Sauce
Tomato, Chili Pepper, Citric Acid, Olive
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Dannon, Oikos, Nonfat Yogurt Drink, Blueberry Acai
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Citric Acid, Carrageenan
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — DRINK MIX, CHERRY POMEGRANATE
Citric Acid, Corn, Aspartame, Caffeine, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Del Monte, Citrus Salad
Grapefruit, Orange, Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mott's Llp — Tomato Cocktail
Tomato, Fructose, Corn, MSG, Citric Acid, Onion, Garlic, Clam, FD&C Red #40, Chili Pepper
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
RBR Wholesale, LLC — CORN STICKS W/ CHILI
Corn, Soybean, Paprika, Citric Acid, Onion, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Fresh Mozzarella Ciliegine, Mozzarella
Cow's Milk, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Wings Seasoning Mix
Corn, Cane Sugar, Black Pepper, Citric Acid, Garlic, Lemon, Sunflower, Onion, Turmeric
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — Basil, Garlic & Olive Oil Petite Diced Tomatoes, Basil, Garlic & Olive Oil
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Citric Acid, Olive, Basil, Oregano
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kellogg Company Us — Kellogg's Other Licensed Fruit Pieces Marvel Avengers .8oz
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle Waters Canada — Natural Berry Flavored Water Beverage, Wild Berry
Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Conagra Brands — Act Ii Butter Lovers Popcorn, 2.75 Oz
Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction / Testing |
|
Campbell Soup Company — V8 Splash Beverage Cherry Lime
Fructose, Corn, Sweet Potato, Lime, Cherry, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Fanta Strawberry Soda Cans, 7.5 Fl Oz, 6 Pack
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Bassetts Softfruits Soft Candy Fruit 179 Gr
Cane Sugar, Sodium Metabisulfite, Citric Acid, Corn, Orange, Lemon, Paprika
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Hubert's Blackberry Lemonade Glass Bottle, 16 Fl Oz
Lemon, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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