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 113 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Nestle USA Inc. — Thick & Chunky Medium Salsa, Medium
Tomato, Citric Acid, Onion, Chili Pepper
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — Prego No Salt Added Pasta Sauce with Classic Italian Flavor and Homemade Taste, 106 Ounce Pouches, 6-Pack
Tomato, Canola/Rapeseed, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Onion, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Hunts Simply Traditional Pasta Sauce, 24 Oz
Tomato, Onion, Cane Sugar, Basil, Garlic, Citric Acid, Parsley
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Hunts Garlic and Onion Spaghetti Sauce, 24 Oz
Tomato, Fructose, Corn, Soybean, Onion, Carrot, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — V8 Beverage Purple
Beet, Carrot, Apple, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Annie's Bunny Pasta with Yummy Cheese Macaroni & Cheese, Made with Organic Pasta
Wheat, Whey, Cow's Milk, Corn, Citric Acid, Sunflower
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Diet Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash Caffeine Free Soda 2 Liter Plastic Bottle-ia
Citric Acid, Aspartame, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Swedish Fish Soft Candy Berry Fat Freevalentines Day1x13.23 Oz
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Swedish Fish Soft Candy Berry Fat Free12x14 Oz
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Swedish Fish Soft Candy Fat Free1x10 Oz
Cane Sugar, Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Fanta Grape Soda Bottle, 1.25 Liters
Fructose, Corn, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Napoleon Co. — Napoleon, Grilled Marinated Artichoke
Sunflower, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Probiotic Yogurt with Bifidus
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Blueberry, Carrageenan, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hormel Foods Corporation — Hormel, Turkey Pepperoni
Turkey, Corn, Paprika, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — MTN DEW, VOLTAGE, DIET SODA, RASPBERRY, RASPBERRY
Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Aspartame, Caffeine, Blue #1, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — TWIZZLERS, PULL 'N' PEEL CANDY, WATERMELON, WATERMELON
Corn, Wheat, Cane Sugar, Glycerin/Glycerol, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle Waters North America Inc. — Tradewinds, Slow Brewed Sweet Iced Tea
Tea, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
P. K. Kinder Co., Inc. — THE STEAK BLEND PREMIUM SEASONING WET RUB, THE STEAK BLEND
Garlic, Cane Sugar, Soybean, Onion, Wheat, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — GATORADE GRAPE 12Z8PK/1
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, Blue #1, Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Gatorade Thirst Quencher Fierce Grape 20 Fluid Ounce Plastic Bottle
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, Blue #1, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Post Consumer Brands, LLC — INSTANT OATMEAL, DRAGONBERRY
Oat, Cane Sugar, Apple, Sodium Metabisulfite, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Breakfast Seasoning
Onion, Chili Pepper, Paprika, Garlic, Tomato, Citric Acid, Solanine
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — Prego Traditional Pasta Sauce, 45 Oz Jar
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Canola/Rapeseed, Onion, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — VOO-DEW MYSTERY FLAVOR SODA MINI, VOO-DEW
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, Glycerin/Glycerol
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CHERRY PIE
Cherry, Wheat, Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Soybean
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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