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 119 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — LEMONADE CAFFEINE FREE UNSWEETENED DRINK MIX, LEMONADE
Citric Acid, Corn, Aspartame, FD&C Yellow #5, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — CAFFEINE FREE ORANGE DRINK MIX, ORANGE
Cane Sugar, Fructose, Citric Acid, Corn, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — COTTAGE CHEESE, SMALL CURD
Cottage Cheese, Cow's Milk, Whey, Carrageenan, Carob, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — SUGAR FREE GUM, ARCTIC GRAPE
Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Aspartame, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. — Tierney's Iced Tea Co., Iced Tea, Lemon Mint
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Tea, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Nonfat Yogurt Drink
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Citric Acid, Carrageenan
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Foods-Snack Foods Group — PREMIUM SMOKED STICKS, SPICY CHILI & GARLIC SEASONED
Pork, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Chili Pepper, Celery, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Salsa
Tomato, Onion, Corn, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — STRAWBERRY PINEAPPLE DRINK MIX PACKETS, STRAWBERRY PINEAPPLE
Citric Acid, Aspartame, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1, Corn
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars Chocolate North America Llc — Starburst, Gummi Bursts
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, Coconut, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Sara Lee Foods — Ball Park, Flame Grilled Turkey Patty
Turkey, Sunflower, Onion, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Original Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice Drink From Concentrate, Original Ruby Red
Grapefruit, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Og — Taffy Wheel
Corn, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Soybean, Lecithin (Soy), Glycerin/Glycerol, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. — Diet Cola Beverage Mix
Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid, Caffeine
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Zesty & Spicy Pasta Sauce, Zesty & Spicy
Tomato, Fructose, Corn, Soybean, Carrot, Citric Acid, Garlic, Chili Pepper
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — NO SALT ADDED SPAGHETTI SAUCE WITH TOMATO BITS, NO SALT ADDED SPAGHETTI
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Onion, Garlic, Wheat
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Red Bull North America, Inc. — Energy Drink, Tropical
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Caffeine, Glycerin/Glycerol
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Angela Mia Spaghetti Sauce with Tomato Bits, #10 Can, 6/104 Oz., 104 Oz
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Onion, Olive, Citric Acid, Basil, Oregano, Parsley
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The J.m. Smucker Company — Smucker 15.5 Ounce Hot Fudge Microwave Squeeze
Corn, Fructose, Cow's Milk, Soybean, Cocoa, Citric Acid, Coumarin/Vanillin
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Diet Coke Bottle, 1.25 Liters
Aspartame, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid, Caffeine
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Blue Sky Dr. Becker Can, 12 Fl Oz
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Bassetts Candy 760 Gr
Sodium Metabisulfite, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Apple, Sunflower, Coconut, Paprika, Turmeric, Wheat
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Hubert's Lemonade Peach Glass Bottle, 16 Fl Oz
Lemon, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Lipton — Wish-bone, Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing
Soybean, Olive, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Metabisulfite, Grape
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Act Ii Extreme Butter, 8.25 Oz
Corn, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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