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 195 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Non Fat Greek Yogurt
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Raspberry, Fructose, Corn, Carrot, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Rao's Homemade — Roasted Peppers with Portobello Mushrooms
Citric Acid, Canola/Rapeseed, Mushroom, Cane Sugar, Olive, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
La Victoria Foods Inc. — La Victoria, Salsa Cilantro, Med
Tomato, Onion, Chili Pepper, Coriander/Cilantro, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Mccormick, Grill Mates, Texas Smokehouse Burgur Mix-in Seasoning
Paprika, Chili Pepper, Oregano, Cane Sugar, Onion, Garlic, Citric Acid, Sunflower, Cocoa, Lime, Solanine
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — DIET CITRUS BLAST, DIET LOW CALORIE CITRUS SODA, CITRUS, CITRUS
Orange, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Aspartame, Caffeine, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle USA Inc. — Chocolate Syrup
Cane Sugar, Cocoa, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1, FD&C Yellow #6
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mott's Llp — Tropical Mix, Tropical
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Mango, Sodium Metabisulfite, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Halls Soothers Candy Raspberry Peach 45 Gr
Cane Sugar, Corn, Fructose, Glycerin/Glycerol, Citric Acid, Peach, Raspberry, Carrot, Paprika
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — DRINK MIX, GRAPE
Citric Acid, Corn, Aspartame, Grape, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Tomato Sauce
Tomato, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Juice
Cane Sugar, Beet, Cranberry, Tea, Grape, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Bj's Wholesale Club / Corporate Brands — Wellsley Farms, Sparkling Water Beverage, Lemon Naturally Flavored
Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Natural Flavor (Unknown)
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Bj's Wholesale Club / Corporate Brands — Italian Sun-dried Tomatoes in Seasoned Oil
Tomato, Sunflower, Olive, Chili Pepper, Grape, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — 365 Everyday Value, Whole Foods Market, Greek Yogurt Strawberry
Yogurt, Cow's Milk, Whey, Cane Sugar, Fructose, Strawberry, Lemon, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Q — Grapefruit
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Grapefruit
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Q — Ginger Beer
Fructose, Citric Acid, Ginger, Chili Pepper, Coriander/Cilantro, Lime, Orange
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Diced Tomatoes
Tomato, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Preferred Wholesale, Inc. — Spicy Beef Stick Stubbies
Beef, Corn, Fructose, MSG, Citric Acid, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Strawberry + Lime Aloe Vera Juice Drink
Cane Sugar, Strawberry, Lime, Citric Acid, Grape
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — CHIVE & ONION CREAM CHEESE SPREAD, CHIVE & ONION
Cow's Milk, Whey, Onion, Carob, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Red Bull North America, Inc. — Peach-nectarine Flavored Peach Edition Energy Drink, Peach-nectarine
Cane Sugar, Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Caffeine, Glycerin/Glycerol
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Ocean Spray, Cran Energy, Sparkling Juice, Cranberry, Cranberry
Grape, Cranberry, Tea, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Roasted Garlic Hummus, Roasted Garlic
Canola/Rapeseed, Sesame, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle Waters North America Inc. — Tradewinds, Unsweetened Slow Brewed Iced Tea, Raspberry, Raspberry
Tea, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Kellogg Company Us — Kellogg's Other Licensed Fruit Pieces Despicable Me 32oz
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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