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 203 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Kellogg Company Us — Kellogg's Fruit Pieces Non-licensed Mixed Berry 17.6oz
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle USA Inc. — Buncha Banana Protein Plus Enhanced Milk Beverage, Buncha Banana
Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Whey, Citric Acid, Carrageenan
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — CAFFEINE FREE DRINK MIX, LEMONADE
Citric Acid, Corn, Aspartame, FD&C Yellow #5, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick, Fruit Spread, Strawberry
Fructose, Corn, Sodium Metabisulfite, Strawberry, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Napoleon Co. — Whole Red Peppers
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Solanine
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — 365 Everyday Value, Organic Diced Tomatoes
Tomato, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Mccormick, Recipe & Seasoning Mix, Tomato Basil Salmon
Wheat, Yeast (Baker's), Cane Sugar, Onion, Tomato, Basil, Black Pepper, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Blue Bell Creameries, Inc. — Pops
Fructose, Corn, Cane Sugar, Lemon, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Turmeric
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Boar's Head Provision Co., Inc. — Tuscan Style White Bean Hummus
Navy Bean, Garlic, Sesame, Lemon, Olive, Rosemary, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — STRAWBERRY PATCH PUDDING, STRAWBERRY PATCH
Cane Sugar, Tapioca, Corn, Citric Acid, Carrageenan, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Rotel Tomatoes with Green Chilies, 10 Oz
Tomato, Chili Pepper, Citric Acid, Coriander/Cilantro
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
RAYGE CANDY & NUTS MARSHMALLOW PEANUTS, 5 OZ
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Lipton — Sweetened Iced Tea Mix
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Tea, Carrot
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Best Choice, Soda, Pine Apple
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Sherbet
Cane Sugar, Corn, Cow's Milk, Whey, Citric Acid, Orange, Polysorbate 80, FD&C Yellow #6
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Clubhouse Coolers — Beverage
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kind Inc. — Blueberry Vanilla & Cashew Bar
Cashew, Almond, Blueberry, Honey, Rice, Grape, Cane Sugar, Vanilla, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle Waters North America Inc. — Nestea, Liquid Water Enhancer, Iced Tea with Peach
Citric Acid, Tea
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
The Minute Maid Company — Minute Maid, Sparkling Water, Mixed Berry
Grape, Strawberry, Cane Sugar, Raspberry, Citric Acid, Corn, Glycerin/Glycerol, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-van Camp — Low Calorie Thirst Quencher
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hormel Foods Corporation — Fiesta Style Smoky Chipotle
Tomato, Chili Pepper, Onion, Garlic, Coriander/Cilantro, Paprika, Citric Acid, Capsaicin, Solanine
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Aloe Vera + Fuji Apple + Pear Juice Drink
Apple, Cane Sugar, Pear, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market — Traditional Hummus, Traditional
Sunflower, Olive, Sesame, Lemon, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — PREMIUM PASTA SAUCE
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Soybean, Citric Acid, Garlic, Onion
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Rotel Original Resealable Jar, 15 Oz
Tomato, Solanine, Citric Acid, Chili Pepper, Capsaicin, Corn
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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