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 197 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Old El Paso Mild Taco Sauce
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Garlic, Onion, Chili Pepper
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Swedish Fish Soft Candy Aqualife Fat Freechristmas12x3.1 Oz
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Philadelphia Handi-snacks Cream Cheese-snack Breadstick Light
Cow's Milk, Carrageenan, Citric Acid, Wheat, Coconut, Barley, Malt, Yeast (Baker's)
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Gold Peak Unsweetened Lemon Tea Bottle, 18.5 Fl Oz
Tea, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — SLAMMIN' SRIRACHA HOT SAUCE, HOT
Chili Pepper, Paprika, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Citric Acid, Corn
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Sour Cream & Onion Potato Chips
Potato, Sunflower, Safflower, Canola/Rapeseed, Cow's Milk, Onion, Whey, Corn, Parsley, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle USA Inc. — ROAST BEEF WITH GRAVY, ROAST
Beef, Corn, Onion, Garlic, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
GRAPE CARTON PUNCH
Fructose, Corn, Grape, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — SUGAR FREE LOW CALORIE DRINK MIX WITH CAFFEINE, GRAPE
Citric Acid, Aspartame, Caffeine, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1, Corn
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — CHERRY POMEGRANATE DRINK MIX, CHERRY POMEGRANATE
Citric Acid, Corn, Aspartame, Caffeine, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Lipton — DRESSING & SEASONING MIX, ITALIAN
Cane Sugar, Garlic, Onion, Carrot, Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Rubyred Light 50 Grapefruit Juice Drink
Grapefruit, Grape, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Arctic Cooler, Sparkling Diet Citrus Soda, Citrus
Citric Acid, Aspartame, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Allens, Refried Beans
Pinto Bean, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Kitchens of Sara Lee — Raspberry Pie with Red-ripe Raspberries
Wheat, Raspberry, Soybean, Fructose, Corn, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle USA Inc. — Low Fat Milk
Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Cocoa, Corn, Citric Acid, Carrageenan
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-van Camp — Gatorade, Thirst Quencher, Lemon Ice
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Corn
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle — Flavored Juice Blend
Apple, Grape, Strawberry, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Q — Spectacular Drink
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Grapefruit
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Chocolate Flavored Sugar Free Syrup, Chocolate
Cocoa, Glycerin/Glycerol, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kellogg Company Us — Kellogg Fruit Pieces Non-licensed Mixed Berry 3.1oz
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kellogg Company Us — Kellogg's Fruit Pieces Non-licensed Berry Sours 15.84oz
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Act Ii Butter Lovers Popcorn, 33.016 Oz
Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Conagra Brands — Banquet Brown N Serve Links, 24.9 Oz
Pork, Turkey, Soybean, Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Pepsi Cola (6 - 16.9 Fluid Ounce) 101.4 Fluid Ounce 6 Pack Plastic Bottles
Fructose, Corn, Cane Sugar, Caffeine, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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