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 104 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Halls Candy Extra Strong 33.5 Gr
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Barilla America, Inc. — Sauce
Tomato, Citric Acid, Mushroom, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Olive, Onion
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Nonfat Greek Yogurt
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Cherry, Carrageenan, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mediterranean Sensations — French Provence Style Rice
Rice, Onion, Tomato, Citric Acid, Garlic, Parsley, Thyme, Bay Leaf
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hormel Foods Corporation — Hormel, Pepperoni Pizza, Original
Pork, Beef, Corn, Paprika, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — 365 Everyday Value, Organic Rustic Vegetable Soup
Tomato, Citric Acid, Carrot, Onion, Green Bean, Potato, Spinach, Corn, Navy Bean, Celery, Wheat, Egg White, Cane Sugar, Canola/Rapeseed, Black Pepper, Garlic, Parsley, Thyme, Chili Pepper
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Lawry's, Fajitas Seasoning Mix
Corn, Paprika, Chili Pepper, Cane Sugar, Soybean, Wheat, Citric Acid, Yeast (Baker's), Garlic, Beef
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — GELATIN DESSERT, LIME
Cane Sugar, Beef, Pork, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — ITALIAN SAUCE, MARINARA
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Canola/Rapeseed, Onion, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — CHILI READY WITH ONIONS DICED TOMATOES
Tomato, Onion, Cane Sugar, Chili Pepper, Citric Acid, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle Waters North America Inc. — Tradewinds, Sweet Iced Tea
Tea, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Marsh Supermarkets, Llc — Maraschino Cherries
Cherry, Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40, Sodium Metabisulfite
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Naked Tropical Reduced Calorie Juice Smoothie 15.2 Fluid Ounce Plastic Bottle
Apple, Coconut, Banana, Pineapple, Mango, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Tropicana Twister Apple Harvest Punch Flavored Drink 59 Fluid Ounce Paper Carton
Fructose, Corn, Apple, Citric Acid, Grape, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Gatorade Frost Riptide Rush Thirst Quencher (8 - 20 Fluid Ounce) 160 Fluid Ounce 8 Pack Plastic Bottle
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, Blue #1, Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — HOLIDAY MIX HARD CANDY, CANDY CANE PEPPERMINT, CHERRY, APPLE
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-Van Camp — GLACIER CHERRY THIRST QUENCHER CONCENTRATE PODS, GLACIER CHERRY
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
SMARTIES CANDY NECKLACE, 4 COUNT, 2.9 OZ
Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Blue #2
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
GOOD & GATHER — RED PEPPER HUMMUS
Sesame, Canola/Rapeseed, Sunflower, Garlic, Citric Acid, Solanine
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — CANDY, SOUR JACKS WATERMELON
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Post Consumer Brands, LLC — BLUEBERRY WHEATFULS LIGHTLY SWEETENED WHOLE WHEAT CEREAL, BLUEBERRY WHEATFULS
Wheat, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1, Blue #2
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — STRAWBERRY KIWI FLAVORED JUICE DRINK BLEND FROM CONCENTRATE, STRAWBERRY KIWI
Cane Sugar, Pear, Grape, Citric Acid, Strawberry, Apple
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods Company — Pineapple in Lime Gel
Pineapple, Cane Sugar, Carrageenan, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Starbucks Coffee Company — Starbucks, Instant Beverage with Green Coffee Extract, Valencia Orange
Cane Sugar, Lemon, Corn, Citric Acid, Grape, Coffee, Caffeine, Turmeric
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Diet Juice Drink From Concentrate
Cranberry, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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