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 88 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Pepsico, Inc — 100% Juice, Orange Strawberry Banana
Apple, Orange, Pineapple, Banana, Citric Acid, Strawberry
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Hunts Tomato Paste with Basil Garlic and Oregano, 6 Oz
Tomato, Basil, Oregano, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-van Camp — Vanilla Endurance Energy Gel, Vanilla
Corn, Rice, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Watermelon Soft Candy Watermelon Fat Free60x3.5 Oz
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Fanta Grape Soda Can, 16 Fl Oz
Fructose, Corn, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Greek Nonfat Yogurt, Black Cherry
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cherry, Cane Sugar, Fructose, Corn, Carrageenan, Carrot, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hormel Foods Corporation — Restaurant Style Salsa
Tomato, Citric Acid, Chili Pepper, Capsaicin, Onion, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hormel Foods Corporation — Hormel, Taco Meats, Seasoned Beef Crumbles
Beef, Tomato, Citric Acid, Paprika, Onion, Garlic, Chili Pepper, Coriander/Cilantro
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Monster Energy Company — Peace Tea, Sweet Lemon Tea, Lemon
Tea, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mott's Llp — Clamato, Tomato Cocktail
Tomato, Fructose, Corn, MSG, Citric Acid, Onion, Garlic, Clam, FD&C Red #40, Chili Pepper
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Whole Peeled Tomatoes
Tomato, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Conagra Brands — Hunts No Salt Added Tomato Sauce
Tomato, Onion, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — APPLE ICED TEA, APPLE
Apple, Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Tea, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Old El Paso Mild Red Enchilada Sauce
Tomato, Corn, Cane Sugar, Chili Pepper, Soybean, Citric Acid, Onion
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Kids Soft Candy Kids Fat Free1x8 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 |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Ocean Spray, Craisins, Dried Cranberries, Blueberry
Cranberry, Cane Sugar, Grape, Blueberry, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Grape Cranberry Juice Drink From Concentrate
Grape, Cranberry, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Bj's Wholesale Club / Corporate Brands — Wellsley Farms, Orange Soda
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Califia Farms, Lp — Original Almondmilk Creamer
Almond, Cane Sugar, Sunflower, Citric Acid, Carrageenan
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Minute Maid Company — Minute Maid, Light Lemonade, Lemonade
Lemon, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, Corn, Fructose, Aspartame
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Honey Mustard, Honey
Apple, Mustard, Cane Sugar, Honey, Paprika, Citric Acid, Turmeric
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Lipton — Sweetened Iced Tea Mix, Mango
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Tea, Carrot
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kellogg Company Us — Kellogg Fruit Pieces Non-licensed Strawberry .8oz
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Hunts Diced Tomatoes Mediterranean Flavor, 14.5 Oz
Tomato, Garlic, Onion, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Paprika, Oregano, Parsley, Rosemary
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Orville Redenbachers Tender White Popcorn, 9.18 Oz
Corn, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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