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 221 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Mondelez International, Inc. — ADAMS, CHICLETS, GUM, FRUIT, FRUIT
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Smoothie Drinks
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Corn, Whey, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-van Camp — Thirst Quencher Cool Blue
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Amy's Kitchen Inc. — Margherita Made with Organic Tomatoes & Basil Hand-stretched Thin Crust Topped with Mozzarella Pizza, Margherita
Wheat, Tomato, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid, Olive, Honey, Basil, Safflower, Sunflower, Garlic, Cane Sugar, Yeast (Baker's)
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole — Roasted Seaweed Almond Rice Sticks
Almond, Rice, Malt, Sesame, Cane Sugar, Grape, Apple, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Company — Overnight Oats
Oat, Cane Sugar, Blueberry, Quinoa, Banana, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Tribe Mediterranean Foods, Inc. — Buffalo Style Hummus
Chili Pepper, Garlic, Canola/Rapeseed, Sesame, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Rt Wholesale, Llc. — Power Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
Quinoa, Carrot, Soybean, Almond, Cranberry, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Sunflower
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Monster Energy Company — Natural Cane Soda, Vanilla Cola
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Vanilla
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle USA Inc. — Juice, Apple
Apple, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Nestle Dreyer's Ice Cream — Fruit Bars, Strawberry
Strawberry, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Carob, Beet, Turmeric
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Hunts Diced Tomatoes, 87 Oz
Tomato, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Pepsi Lipton — Peach Real Brewed Tea, Peach
Tea, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Hunts Simply Garlic Parmesan Pasta Sauce, 24 Oz
Tomato, Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Basil, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Orville Redenbachers Butter Popcorn, 23.22 Oz
Corn, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Kids Soft Candy Kids Easter1x1 Oz
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Swedish Fish Soft Candy Berry Fat Free12x3.1 Oz
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Hubert's Lemonade Original Glass Bottle, 16 Fl Oz
Lemon, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Superstars Greek Lowfat Yogurt
Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Corn, Lemon, Carob, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Dairy Dessert
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Triple Zero Nonfat Greek Yogurt
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Dries Cranberries
Cranberry, Cane Sugar, Grape, Blueberry, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Del Monte, Juice Drink, Pineaple Crush
Pineapple, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle Waters North America Inc. — Diet Iced Tea
Citric Acid, Tea, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Oregano Stir-in Paste
Oregano, Canola/Rapeseed, Glycerin/Glycerol, Whey, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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