citric acid
Additives & Leavening
Is citric acid high in nightshades?
Find out whether citric acid is high or low in nightshades, see its exact rating, and check its FODMAP, salicylate, oxalate and diet compatibility all in one place.
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Compare citric acid across criteria
Sensitivity notes
Why nightshades food checker matters
Nightshades are a plant family including tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and potatoes. Some people find that avoiding nightshades helps with joint pain, digestive issues, or inflammatory conditions, though research is limited.
- Complete elimination for 30 days gives the clearest picture
- Watch for hidden nightshades in spice blends and sauces
- Paprika and cayenne are nightshades often overlooked
Serving size, prep, and portion notes for citric acid
The single most useful fact about citric acid is that it does not come from citrus. Essentially all of the commercial supply is grown, not squeezed: a black mould called Aspergillus niger is fermented on a sugar feedstock, usually corn-derived glucose syrup and sometimes molasses or cassava, and the acid is precipitated out and purified. That matters in two directions. Anyone avoiding corn cannot treat citric acid as automatically corn-free, and the people who report reacting to manufactured citric acid while eating lemons and limes without trouble at least have a plausible reason to tell the two apart. On the chemistry we grade, citric acid is clean: A on histamine, A on histamine liberation, A on tyramine, sulfites, gluten, dairy protein, nickel, free glutamate and nightshade. It is also in almost every sour sweet and soft drink there is, which makes it one of the most heavily confounded suspects a food journal can throw up.
Watch for
Not a citrus product. Industrial citric acid is a fermentation product of Aspergillus niger grown on a sugar substrate, most often corn glucose syrup, so it is a hidden corn exposure for anyone eliminating corn and a mould-derived ingredient for anyone tracking that / It appears as E330 on European labels, and its salts (sodium citrate, potassium citrate, calcium citrate) are made from the same acid by the same route. If you are avoiding it for feedstock reasons, the citrates count too / The products that carry the most of it are sour sweets, gummies, energy and soft drinks, flavoured water and sports drinks, which also carry colours, intense sweeteners, preservatives and caffeine. A reaction logged against citric acid is very often a reaction to the product it came in / There is a direct contact side that has nothing to do with intolerance: strongly acidic sweets and drinks erode tooth enamel and can leave the lips, tongue and mouth raw or ulcerated. That is chemical irritation at the surface, not a systemic response / Published reports of intolerance to manufactured citric acid specifically exist, but they are a handful of case descriptions rather than an established condition. Treat it as a hypothesis to test in your own log, not a diagnosis
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Nightshades Guide
Everything you need to know about nightshades sensitivity and smart food choices.
Nightshades are a plant family including tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and potatoes. Some people find that avoiding nightshades helps with joint pain, digestive issues, or inflammatory conditions, though research is limited.
Sensitivity varies widely. What triggers one person may be fine for another. Track your reactions to find your personal threshold.
These foods are generally well-tolerated for Nightshades sensitivity:
View all safe options
These foods have moderate levels and may be tolerated in small amounts:
These foods are high in nightshades and may trigger symptoms:
View full list
If you're sensitive to Nightshades, consider these strategies:
- 1Complete elimination for 30 days gives the clearest picture
- 2Watch for hidden nightshades in spice blends and sauces
- 3Paprika and cayenne are nightshades often overlooked
- 4Sweet potatoes are NOT nightshades - they're safe
- 5Goji berries are nightshades
Pro tip: Keep a food diary to track your reactions. The Triggerbites app makes this easy with automatic pattern detection.
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Is citric acid high in Nightshades?
Nightshades: low signal for most people.
Can I still eat citric acid if I'm sensitive to Nightshades?
Usually fine in normal portions.
What else should I check?
Check Inflammation, Paleo AIP, and Vegan next for a fuller picture.