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 209 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Lipton, Superfruit Green Tea, Cranberry Pomegranate Flavor with Other Natural Flavor
Tea, Cinnamon, Citric Acid, Lemon, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Cranberry
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Creamy Lowfat Yogurt
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Corn, Lime, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Frozen Foods — FULLY COOKED SAUSAGE LINKS, ORIGINAL
Pork, Turkey, Soybean, Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Dannon, Danimals, Smoothie Max, Rainbow Sherbert Burst
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Whey, Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle Waters North America Inc. — Jimmy Buffett's Island Iced Black Tea
Apple, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Orange, Pear, Tea
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle USA Inc. — Flavored Juice Blend
Apple, Grape, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — Orville Redenbacher's, Smart Pop!, Gourmet Popping Corn, Butter, Butter
Corn, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — Plum Mighty Veg Tots Snacks Zucchini Melon Apple
Zucchini, Apple, Watermelon, Citric Acid, Barley, Lemon, Mint/Menthol
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Ocean Spray, Juice Drink, Cran-apple
Cane Sugar, Beet, Cranberry, Apple, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mott's Llp — Ibc, Cream Soda
Cane Sugar, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Gatorade Fierce Grape Thirst Quencher 32 Fluid Ounce Plastic Bottle
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, Blue #1, Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Starbucks Coffee Company — Classic Latte
Tea, Black Pepper, Ginger, Cinnamon, Cane Sugar, Honey, Vanilla, Coumarin/Vanillin, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Minute Maid Company — Light Lemonade
Lemon, Citric Acid, Corn, Glycerin/Glycerol, Benzoic Acid, Aspartame, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle USA Inc. — Mild Fire Roasted Whole Green Chiles, Mild
Chili Pepper, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Bj's Wholesale Club / Corporate Brands — Imported Spanish Manzanilla Olives Stuffed with Minced Pimientos
Olive, Chili Pepper, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Mediterranean Spiced Sea Salt with Garlic, Basil & Oregano, Garlic, Basil & Oregano
Garlic, Oregano, Basil, Lemon, Citric Acid, Chili Pepper, Solanine, Capsaicin
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle Waters North America Inc. — Slightly Sweet Real Brewed Organic Black Tea
Tea, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Haagen-dazs Company, Inc. — Lemon Sorbet, Lemon
Cane Sugar, Corn, Lemon, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Red Bull North America, Inc. — Watermelon Flavored Summer Edition Energy Drink, Watermelon
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Caffeine
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — CHOCOLATE FLAVORED DRINK BASE LIQUID, CHOCOLATE
Corn, Fructose, Cocoa, Caffeine, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Yoplait USA — Fat Free Yogurt, Key Lime Pie
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Corn, Cane Sugar, Lime, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Orville Redenbachers Salted Caramel Popcorn, 8.7 Oz
Corn, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Wheat Thins Crackers Barbecue Gluten Free1x3.5 Oz
Rice, Potato, Corn, Safflower, Cane Sugar, Tomato, Garlic, Onion, Citric Acid, Yeast (Baker's), Paprika
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Pepsi Cola (8 - 12 Fluid Ounce) 96 Fluid Ounce 8 Pack Plastic Bottles
Fructose, Corn, Cane Sugar, Caffeine, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Gatorade Orange 24z
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, Glycerin/Glycerol
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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