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.
7,950
Products Found
38.4%
Of All Products
210
Low Risk (0-2)
6,654
High Risk (5+)
Risk Distribution
How products containing Citric Acid break down by total trigger count:
210
2.6%
Low Risk (0-2 triggers)
1,086
13.7%
Moderate (3-4 triggers)
6,654
83.7%
High Risk (5+ triggers)
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 100 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Coca-Cola USA Operations — SPORTS DRINK, LEMON LIME
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Cedar's Mediterranean Foods, Inc. — Cedar's, All Natural Hommus
Sunflower, Sesame, Onion, Garlic, Chili Pepper, Capsaicin, Citric Acid, Cumin, Black Pepper
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hormel Foods Corporation — Pepperoni Pizza
Pork, Beef, Corn, Paprika, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Dannon, Nonfat Yogurt Drink, Strawberry
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Whey, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Clif Bar and Company — Organic Fruit+veggie Zbar
Apple, Beet, Blueberry, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Cocoa, Coumarin/Vanillin, Lecithin (Soy), Lemon, Oat, Raspberry, Soybean, Strawberry, Sunflower, Sweet Potato, Tapioca, Vanilla
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Fruit Spread
Cane Sugar, Peach, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle USA Inc. — Juicy Juice, 100% Juice, Grape
Apple, Grape, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Mojito Lime Seasoning, Mojito Lime
Cane Sugar, Mint/Menthol, Chili Pepper, Garlic, Onion, Orange, Citric Acid, Lime
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Berry Medley with White Cranberries Apple White Cranberry Juice Drink From Concentrate, Berry Medley with White Cranberries
Cane Sugar, Beet, Apple, Cranberry, Citric Acid, Carrot
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. — Non-alcoholic Cocktail Mix
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Greek Caramel Toffee Flavor Nonfat Yogurt
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Corn, Carob, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Chobani, Inc. — MILK & COOKIES FLAVOR ZERO SUGAR YOGURT-CULTURED ULTRA-FILTERED NONFAT MILK, MILK & COOKIES
Cow's Milk, Whey, Yogurt, Cocoa, Tapioca, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Mushroom Pasta Sauce, Mushroom
Tomato, Mushroom, Cane Sugar, Canola/Rapeseed, Soybean, Garlic, Onion, Citric Acid, Parsley
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Daiya — Cheeze Lover's Gluten-free Pizza, Cheeze Lover's
Tapioca, Rice, Sorghum, Potato, Olive, Cane Sugar, Yeast (Baker's), Tomato, Onion, Basil, Garlic, Canola/Rapeseed, Safflower, Coconut, Green Pea, Glycerin/Glycerol, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Tony Chachere's Creole Foods of Opelousas, Inc. — Supreme Crab Boil
Black Pepper, Capsaicin, Celery, Chili Pepper, Citric Acid, Lemon, Paprika
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Vanilla Triple Zero Blended Greek Nonfat Yogurt, Vanilla
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Monster Energy Company — 100% Juice, Cranberry Apple
Apple, Grape, Cranberry, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle USA Inc. — Juicy Juice, Fruitifuls, Flavored Juice Beverage Blend, Punch Splash
Apple, Pear, Grape, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mott's Llp — Juice Beverage, Strawberry Boom
Apple, Strawberry, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Snack Pack Pudding Lemon, 13 Oz
Cane Sugar, Tapioca, Corn, Citric Acid, Carrageenan, Lemon, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico, Inc — Lemon Lime Flavored Soda, Lemon Lime
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kellogg Company Us — Kellogg's Other Licensed Fruit Pieces Despicable Me .8oz
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Bubblicious Gum Watermelon Big1x10.000 Pc
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Red #40, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Annie's Organic Birthday Cake Bunny Grahams
Wheat, Cane Sugar, Sunflower, Corn, Rice, Potato, Turmeric, Carrot, Blueberry, Cabbage, Radish, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle USA Inc. — Diced Green Chiles
Chili Pepper, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
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