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 111 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Conagra Foods, Inc. — Hunt's, Tomato Paste, Garlic, Hunt's, Tomato Paste, Garlic
Tomato, Garlic, Onion, Parsley, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Angela Mia Stewed Tomatoes, #10 Can, 6/103 Oz., 103 Oz
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Onion, Citric Acid, Celery
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez International, Inc. — FREEZE LEMONADE VARIETY MIX SOFT & CHEWY CANDY, BLUE RASPBERRY LEMONADE, STRAWBERRY LEMONADE, CHERRY LIME LEMONADE, LEMONADE
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Blue #1, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — Prego Sauces Mushroom
Tomato, Mushroom, Cane Sugar, Canola/Rapeseed, Citric Acid, Onion, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Annie's Organic Lite Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing
Apple, Canola/Rapeseed, Honey, Cane Sugar, Raspberry, Mustard, Carrot, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Peach Soft Candy Peach Fat Free24x2.000 Oz
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #6
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Kids Soft Candy Kids Fat Freechristmas1x2.62 Lb
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Swedish Fish Soft Candy Red Fat Free9x72 1n
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Coca-cola Cherry Zero Cans, 7.5 Fl Oz, 6 Pack
Aspartame, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid, Caffeine
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Mccormick Gourmet, Herbes De Provence Roasted Chicken & Potatoes Recipe & Seasoning Mix
Onion, Rosemary, Thyme, Garlic, Corn, Cane Sugar, Sunflower, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hormel Foods Corporation — Taco Seasoning Mix
Wheat, Cane Sugar, Onion, Garlic, Yeast (Baker's), MSG, Citric Acid, Paprika
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — GREEK STYLE HUMMUS, GREEK STYLE
Sesame, Canola/Rapeseed, Garlic, Onion, Lemon, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Napoleon Co. — Pimiento Stuffed Olives
Olive, Chili Pepper, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Veggie & Fruit Juice
Peach, Pumpkin, Sweet Potato, Squash, Cane Sugar, Pear, Mango, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. — Waterful, Water Mix, Blissful Berry
Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — ORANGE SODA, ORANGE
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
PEACH GUMMY RINGS CANDY
Corn, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #6
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Pepsi Cola Wild Cherry 2 Liter Plastic Bottle
Fructose, Corn, Cane Sugar, Caffeine, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Soft Candy Tropical Fat Free1x4 Oz
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — V8 Splash Beverage Peach Mango
Corn, Fructose, Carrot, Citric Acid, Mango, Peach
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Monster Energy Company — Hubert's, Raspberry Lemonade, Raspberry
Cane Sugar, Lemon, Citric Acid, Raspberry
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. — Seltzer Mix
Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Cia. Topo Chico, S.a. — Topo Sabores, Flavored Soda, Strawberry
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #6
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Minute Maid Company — Bright & Early, Drink, Orange
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Soybean, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Unilever — ICED CITRUS JASMINE FLAVOR GREEN TEA & JUICE CONCENTRATE, ICED CITRUS JASMINE
Tea, Citric Acid, Honey, Lemon, Orange, Lime
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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