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 96 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Protein Smoothie
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Whey, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Protein Shake
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Whey, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle Waters North America Inc. — Nestea, Diet Green Tea, Citrus
Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid, Tea, Cane Sugar
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nabisco Biscuit Company — Nabisco, Triscuit, Brown Rice & Wheat Crackers, Tomato & Sweet Basil
Rice, Wheat, Soybean, Tomato, Cane Sugar, Onion, Basil, Garlic, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid, Paprika
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-van Camp — Water Beverage with Electrolytes
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Greek Black Cherry Nonfat Yogurt
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cherry, Cane Sugar, Corn, Carob, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Minute Maid Company — Minute Maid, Fruit Drink, Watermelon
Fructose, Corn, Watermelon, Grape, Pear, Apple, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Tribe Mediterranean Foods, Inc. — Roasted Red Pepper Hummus, Roasted Red Pepper
Canola/Rapeseed, Sesame, Garlic, Citric Acid, Onion, Solanine
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Califia Farms, Lp — Coconut Cream & Almondmilk, Original
Almond, Coconut, Cane Sugar, Sunflower, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Meat Pasta Sauce, Meat
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Canola/Rapeseed, Soybean, Beef, Garlic, Onion, Citric Acid, Parsley
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kellogg Company Us — Kellogg Fruit Pieces Disney Dory 17.6oz
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Banquet Brown N Serve Original Link, 32 Oz
Pork, Turkey, Soybean, Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Orville Redenbachers Salted Caramel Popcorn, 17.42 Oz
Corn, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Lipton Iced Tea Peach (12 - 16.9 Fluid Ounce) 202.8 Fluid Ounce 12 Pack Plastic Bottle 12 Pack
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Tea, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Kids Soft Candy Kids Fat Free8x240.000 1n
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Blue #1, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Diet Coke Bottles, 16.9 Fl Oz, 24 Pack
Aspartame, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid, Caffeine
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — V8 Beverage White Grape Raspberry
Sweet Potato, Carrot, Grape, Raspberry, Citric Acid, Tea, Caffeine
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — MEATLOAF SEASONING MIX
Wheat, Onion, Paprika, Garlic, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Sauce with Italian Herbs
Tomato, Citric Acid, Carrot, Onion, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Napoleon Co. — Jalapeno Stuffed Olives
Olive, Chili Pepper, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Monster Energy Company — Hubert's Lemonade, Diet Lemonade, Mango
Lemon, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Mango
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Terrafina Llc — New York Sweet Factory, Sour Gummy Mix
Corn, Cane Sugar, Beef, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #6
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Terrapin Ridge Farms Llc — Chipotle Aiolo
Canola/Rapeseed, Tomato, Egg White, Egg Yolk, Garlic, Chili Pepper, Lime, Cane Sugar, Mustard, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Odom's Tennessee Pride Sausage Links, 12 Count, 0.625 Lb
Pork, Cane Sugar, Rosemary, MSG, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Juice Drink From Concentrate
Apple, Cranberry, Grape, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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