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 205 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — 365 Everyday Value, Tomato Bisque
Tomato, Cow's Milk, Corn, Carrot, Cane Sugar, Onion, Basil, Garlic, Citric Acid, Black Pepper, Thyme
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mott's Llp — Ibc, Black Cherry Soda
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Light Aloe Vera Juice Drink
Orange, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Nonfat Yogurt Greek Mixed Berry
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Strawberry, Cane Sugar, Raspberry, Corn, Carob, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Odoms Tennessee Pride Fresh Patties, 0.75 Lb
Pork, Cane Sugar, Rosemary, MSG, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Ro*tel Chipotle Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilies and Chipotle Peppers, 10 Ounce, 10 Oz
Tomato, Chili Pepper, Citric Acid, Onion, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Cumin, Oregano
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Chili Without Beans - #10 Can, 108 Oz
Beef, Tomato, Corn, Soybean, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Garlic, Onion
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — Campbell's Soup Tomato
Tomato, Fructose, Corn, Wheat, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — V8 Beverage Lemonade
Sweet Potato, Apple, Lemon, Citric Acid, Tea, Caffeine
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Diet Coke Bottles, 8.55 Fl Oz, 6 Pack
Aspartame, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid, Caffeine
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Diet Coke Bottle, 16 Fl Oz
Aspartame, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid, Caffeine
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Barq's Root Beer Bottle, 20 Fl Oz
Corn, Fructose, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid, Caffeine
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Blended Greek Yogurt
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Whey, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Newman's Own, Inc. — Newman's Own, Garden Peppers Pasta Sauce
Tomato, Citric Acid, Olive, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Coca-Cola USA Operations — TROPICAL MANGO FLAVORED SPORTS DRINK, TROPICAL MANGO
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #6, Mango
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Markets — Nummy Cubbies
Tapioca, Cane Sugar, Corn, Cabbage, Radish, Citric Acid, Sunflower
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez International, Inc. — TAILS SOFT & CHEWY CANDY, BLUE RASPBERRY STRAWBERRY, WATERMELON PINEAPPLE, RASPBERRY MANGO
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Blue #1, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #6
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Minute Maid Company — Hi-c, Flavored Fruit Drink, Wild Cherry
Fructose, Corn, Pear, Cherry, Citric Acid, Cane Sugar
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Gatarode Fierce Green Apple Thirst Quencher 28 Fluid Ounce Bottle
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mama Lina Wholesale Co. — PIZZA SAUCE
Tomato, Soybean, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Onion, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — ASSORTED FLAVORS GUMMY STARS, ASSORTED
Cane Sugar, Tapioca, Grape, Citric Acid, Carrot, Turmeric
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — SPAGHETTI SAUCE WITH TOMATO BITS, SPAGHETTI
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Soybean, Citric Acid, Garlic, Onion
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Walnut Sundae Topping, Wide-mouth Jugs, 115 Oz
Walnut, Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Cane Sugar
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez International, Inc. — PEACH SOFT & CHEWY CANDY, PEACH
Cane Sugar, Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — JUICE DRINK
Cane Sugar, Beet, Apple, Cranberry, Citric Acid, Carrot
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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