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 225 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
The Minute Maid Company — Hi-c, Flavored Fruit Drink, Blazin' Blueberry
Fructose, Corn, Apple, Grape, Blueberry, Citric Acid, Cane Sugar
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Southwest Sweet 'n Smoky Seasoning, Southwest Sweet 'n Smoky
Chili Pepper, Onion, Garlic, Tomato, Cane Sugar, Paprika, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods, Llc — Cherry Mixed Fruit Juice
Peach, Pineapple, Apple, Cherry, FD&C Red #3, Pear, Grape, Lemon, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Caramel Flavored Syrup, Caramel
Fructose, Corn, Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — GUMMY BEARS ASSORTED FLAVORS CANDY, GUMMY BEARS
Cane Sugar, Tapioca, Grape, Citric Acid, Carrot, Turmeric
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Minute Maid Company — Grape Punch Juice, Grape Punch
Fructose, Corn, Grape, Pear, Apple, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Smucker's, Simply Fruit, Spreadable Fruit, Strawberry, Strawberry
Strawberry, Lemon, Grape, Fructose, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Annie's Classic Macaroni & Cheese Family Size, Made with Organic Pasta
Wheat, Whey, Cow's Milk, American Cheese, Corn, Citric Acid, Sunflower
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Diet Pepsi Wild Cherry 12 Fluid Ounce Aluminum Can
Citric Acid, Caffeine
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Candy 1x6.350 Oz
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, Blue #1, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Tribe Mediterranean Foods, Inc. — Tribe, Spicy Red Pepper Hummus
Sesame, Canola/Rapeseed, Solanine, Garlic, Citric Acid, Chili Pepper, Capsaicin
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Original Roma Style Tomatoes Pizza Sauce
Tomato, Solanine, Cane Sugar, Corn, Onion, Soybean, Garlic, Carrot, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Monster Energy Company — Hubert's Lemonade, Blackberry Lemonade
Cane Sugar, Lemon, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-van Camp — Fruit Punch Thirst Quencher, Fruit Punch
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hormel Foods Corporation — Hot & Spicy Pepperoni, Hot & Spicy
Pork, Beef, Paprika, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Kids Soft Candy Freeze Fat Free1x4 Oz
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Blue #1, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle USA Inc. — Pasta Sauce
Tomato, Citric Acid, Cane Sugar, Olive, Onion, Parsley, Black Pepper, Basil, Oregano, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods Company — Mixed Fruit
Strawberry, Pineapple, Mango, Peach, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
R. C. Bigelow, Inc. — Cold Brew Iced Tea
Tea, Lemon, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Activia Greek Nonfat Yogurt
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Fructose, Cane Sugar, Banana, Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle Waters North America Inc. — Tradewinds, Slow Brewed Iced Tea
Tea, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — Prego Sauces Tomato Basil
Tomato, Onion, Olive, Garlic, Basil, Citric Acid, Black Pepper, Oregano
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Lentil Soup, Lentil
Lentil, Carrot, Celery, Tomato, Corn, Spinach, Onion, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi Lipton — Raspberry Real Brewed Tea, Raspberry
Tea, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Orville Redenbachers Butter Popcorn, 17.41 Oz
Corn, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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