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 114 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
CONAGRA BRANDS — CRACKED PEPPER SUNFLOWER SEEDS, CRACKED PEPPER
Sunflower, Black Pepper, Onion, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — PASTA SAUCE
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Soybean, Onion, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — WILD STRAWBERRY DRINK MIX, WILD STRAWBERRY
Citric Acid, Aspartame, Caffeine, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1, Corn
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — LOWFAT COTTAGE CHEESE
Cottage Cheese, Cow's Milk, Whey, Yogurt, Citric Acid, Carrageenan
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — STRAWBERRY LEMONADE FLAVORED DRINK, STRAWBERRY LEMONADE
Corn, Fructose, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Glycerin/Glycerol
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Monster Energy Company — Hansen's, Natural Cane Soda, Ginger Ale
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Vanilla, Ginger
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Clif Bar and Company — Clif, Shot Energy Gel, Vanilla
Corn, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Cape Cod Potato Chips Inc. — Cape Cod, Kettle Cooked Potato Chips
Potato, Canola/Rapeseed, Tomato, Fructose, Cane Sugar, Onion, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle Waters North America Inc. — Liquid Water Enhancer
Citric Acid, Lemon, Tea
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Minute Maid Company — Minute Maid, 100% Juice, Mixed Berry
Apple, Grape, Raspberry, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Diced Apples & Pears in Extra Light Syrup with Caramel, Caramel
Apple, Pear, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Cranberry Granola Dried Cranberries Fruit Clusters, Cranberry Granola
Cranberry, Cane Sugar, Glycerin/Glycerol, Citric Acid, Sunflower, Oat, Rice, Canola/Rapeseed, Barley, Malt, Honey
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Strawberry Triple Zero Blended Greek Nonfat Yogurt, Strawberry
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Whey, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — San Marzano Style Garlic & Crushed Red Pepper Whole Peeled Tomatoes, San Marzano Style Garlic & Crushed Red Pepper
Tomato, Garlic, Chili Pepper, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kind Inc. — Fruit & Nut Bars, Blueberry Vanilla & Cashew
Cashew, Almond, Blueberry, Honey, Rice, Grape, Cane Sugar, Vanilla, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Orange Sports Drink, Orange
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
The Kellogg Company — Fruit Snacks
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Angela Mia Petite Diced Tomatoes, #10 Can, 6/102 Oz., 102 Oz
Tomato, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Muir Glen Organic Tomato Paste
Tomato, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Swedish Fish Assorted Soft Candy Assorted Fat Free16x1.9 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) — Sour Patch Kids Soft Candy Tricksters Fat Free1x9 Oz
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Gold Peak Diet Green Tea Bottle, 64 Fl Oz
Tea, Citric Acid, Aspartame
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Bubbaloo Gum
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Glycerin/Glycerol
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — Prego Sauces Zucchini
Tomato, Zucchini, Onion, Cane Sugar, Canola/Rapeseed, Citric Acid, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Trader Joe's, Dijon Mustard with White Wine
Mustard, Grape, Sodium Metabisulfite, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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