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 107 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Mission Foods Inc — 100% Whole Wheat Soft Taco Flour Tortillas
Wheat, Soybean, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Yoplait USA — Tubes
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Carrageenan, Turmeric
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Cranberry Apple Juice Drink From Concentrate, Cranberry Apple
Cane Sugar, Beet, Cranberry, Apple, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-van Camp — Glacier Cherry Crisp & Cool Thirst Quencher, Glacier Cherry
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Dannon, Activia, Probiotic Nonfat Greek Yogurt, 4 Key Lime, 4 Key Lime
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Lime, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Crushed Tomatoes
Tomato, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — Prego Traditional Pasta Sauce with Classic Italian Flavor and Homemade Taste, 106 Ounce Pouches, 6-Pack
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Canola/Rapeseed, Onion, Citric Acid, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kellogg Company Us — Gardenburger Veggie Burgers Veggie Vegan 3.4oz 48ct
Soybean, Wheat, Barley, Rye, Mushroom, Oat, Onion, Broccoli, Carrot, Canola/Rapeseed, Garlic, Yeast (Baker's), Mustard, Grape, Citric Acid, Cane Sugar, Malt, Coconut, Sunflower, Solanine
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kellogg Company Us — Kellogg Fruit Pieces Disney Disney Princess 17.6oz
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle USA Inc. — Drink Mix, Strawberry
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Snack Pack Gel Sugar Free Cherry, 13 Oz
Apple, Carrageenan, Citric Acid, Carob, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Betty Crocker Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting
Cane Sugar, Corn, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, Polysorbate 80, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Yoplait Greek 100 Whips! Coconut Macaroon Fat Free Yogurt Mousse
Yogurt, Cow's Milk, Whey, Fructose, Corn, Coconut, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Yoplait Greek Blueberry Fat Free Yogurt
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Blueberry, Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Pepsi Zero Sugar Cola 7.5 Fluid Ounce Aluminum Can
Aspartame, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Company — Yogurt
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Corn, Whey, Citric Acid, Vanilla
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — FLAVORED JUICE COCKTAIL FROM CONCENTRATE, APPLE CHERRY
Fructose, Corn, Apple, Cherry, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Tomatoes Diced with Onion & Green Bell Pepper
Tomato, Fructose, Corn, Onion, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — LIPTON, 100% NATURAL, GREEN TEA, PASSIONFRUIT MANGO, PASSIONFRUIT MANGO
Fructose, Corn, Tea, Caffeine, Citric Acid, Mango
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Bj's Wholesale Club / Corporate Brands — Signature Garlic Hummus
Sesame, Sunflower, Garlic, Citric Acid, Cumin, Turmeric
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kellogg Company Us — Kellogg's Fruit Pieces Disney Disney Fairies .8oz
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — Prego Sauces Tomato/basil/garlic
Tomato, Canola/Rapeseed, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Citric Acid, Basil
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Sprite Bottle, 16.9 Fl Oz
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Clif Bar and Company — Shot Energy Gel
Corn, Cane Sugar, Tea, Caffeine, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Whole Foods Market, Limoncello Italian Gelato
Cane Sugar, Cow's Milk, Lemon, Wheat, Coconut, Citric Acid, Rice
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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