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 92 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Nabisco Food Company — Premium Mixed Nuts
Almond, Basil, Cane Sugar, Cashew, Citric Acid, Garlic, Paprika, Peanut, Pecan, Pistachio, Tomato
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Wholey — Breakfast Sausage Links
Pork, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Annie's Sour Bunnies Bunny Fruit Snacks
Tapioca, Cane Sugar, Pear, Citric Acid, Carrot
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Minute Maid Company — Hi-c, Flavored Fruit Drink, Boppin' Strawberry, Boppin' Strawberry
Corn, Fructose, Pear, Apple, Strawberry, Citric Acid, Cane Sugar
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Hunts Tomato Sauce, Pouch, 6/103 Oz., 105 Oz
Tomato, Onion, Garlic, Chili Pepper, Capsaicin, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Slim Jim Mesquite Smoke Steak, 1.45 Oz
Beef, Cane Sugar, Soybean, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Betty Crocker Rich & Creamy Lemon Frosting
Cane Sugar, Fructose, Corn, FD&C Yellow #5, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Old El Paso Original Taco Seasoning Mix Value Size
Chili Pepper, Corn, Onion, Canola/Rapeseed, Soybean, Sunflower, Citric Acid, Cane Sugar
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Sierra Mist 2 Liter Plastic Bottle-ia
Fructose, Corn, Lemon, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Gold Peak Peach Tea Bottle, 16.9 Fl Oz
Tea, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Caffeine
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Unilever Bestfoods France — Maille, Traditional Dijon Mustard, Hot
Mustard, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Tribe Mediterranean Foods, Inc. — Tribe, Classic Hummus
Sesame, Canola/Rapeseed, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Tomatoes Diced in Rich Juice
Tomato, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Mccormick, Grill Mates, Montreal Chicken Seasoning
Garlic, Onion, Chili Pepper, Orange, Paprika, Citric Acid, Lemon, Sodium Metabisulfite
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Productos Quaker Sa — STRAWBERRY FLAVORED OAT BEVERAGE MIX, STRAWBERRY
Oat, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
WILD CHERRY FLAVORED FRUIT DRINK
Cherry, Corn, Fructose, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Taco Skillet Sauce
Tomato, Cumin, Paprika, Garlic, Onion, Corn, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Marsh Supermarkets, Llc — Chili Ready Diced Tomatoes
Tomato, Chili Pepper, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. — Snapple, Black and Green Tea, Lemon
Cane Sugar, Tea, Citric Acid, Aspartame
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Diced Tomatoes
Tomato, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Perdue — Fajita Style Grilled Chicken Breast Strips, Fajita Style
Chicken, Rice, Garlic, Onion, Tomato, Yeast (Baker's), Lime, Corn, Citric Acid, Coriander/Cilantro
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Baja Fish Seasoning Mix, Baja Fish
Garlic, Chili Pepper, Cumin, Black Pepper, Oregano, Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Lime
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mott's Llp — Mott's, Fruit Punch Juice Beverage, Fruit Punch Rush
Apple, Grape, Cherry, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Hunts Tomato Sauce No Salt Added, 14.8 Oz
Tomato, Citric Acid, Garlic, Onion
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
WELCH'S — WELCH'S 10 FL OZ JUICE COCKTAIL - CRANBERRY
Fructose, Corn, Cranberry, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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