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 120 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Baja Citrus Marinade
Chili Pepper, Capsaicin, Garlic, Corn, Orange, Citric Acid, Paprika, Lemon, Lime
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Monster Energy Company — Peace Tea, Caddy Shack, Ice Tea + Lemonade
Tea, Cane Sugar, Apple, Lemon, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Unilever Bestfoods France — Drink Mix
Citric Acid, Blue #1, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Clif Bar and Company — Clif, Hydration Electrolyte Drink Mix, Lemon Lime-ade
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Hormel Foods Corporation — Hormel, Pepperoni Snack Bites, Original
Pork, Beef, Corn, Paprika, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hormel Foods Corporation — Clear Thickened Water
Citric Acid, Lemon
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Dole Packaged Foods Company — 100% Juice
Pineapple, Carrot, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Company — Lowfat Yogurt with Fruit Mousse
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Lemon, Corn, Whey, Citric Acid, Orange, Glycerin/Glycerol, Turmeric
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Minute Maid Company — Minute Maid, Sparkling Juice Drink, Fruit Punch
Grape, Apple, Cane Sugar, Pineapple, Citric Acid, Corn, Glycerin/Glycerol, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-van Camp — Energy Gel
Corn, Rice, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Herb Roasted Turkey-style Plant-based Deli Slices, Herb Roasted
Wheat, Soybean, Navy Bean, Rice, Garlic, Tomato, Onion, Parsley, Carrageenan, Yeast (Baker's), Lecithin (Soy), Tapioca, Citric Acid, Potato
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-van Camp — Strawberry Watermelon Thirst Quencher, Strawberry Watermelon
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Medium Plant-based Queso, Medium
Pumpkin, Canola/Rapeseed, Tomato, Citric Acid, Chili Pepper, Yeast (Baker's), Onion, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Kellogg Company — Fruit Flavored Snacks, Strawberry
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Yoplait Greek 100 Protein Key Lime Fat Free Yogurt
Cow's Milk, Fructose, Lime, Corn, Citric Acid, Yogurt, Turmeric
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Lipton Diet Green Tea Mixed Berry 16.9 Fluid Ounce/12 Pack Plastic Bottles
Citric Acid, Tea, Aspartame, Caffeine
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Mtn Dew Soda 12 Fluid Ounce Glass Bottle
Cane Sugar, Orange, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Diet Coke Zesty Blood Orange Can, 12 Fl Oz
Aspartame, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid, Caffeine
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Philadelphia Cream Cheese-soft Light
Cow's Milk, Carrageenan, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hormel Foods Corporation — Mild Salsa
Tomato, Mango, Chili Pepper, Onion, Cane Sugar, Lime, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — ICED TEA , RESPBERRY
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Tea, Benzoic Acid, Raspberry
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Ocean Spray, White Cranberry Flavord Juice Drink
Grape, Cane Sugar, Beet, Cranberry, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Dannon, Dairy Drink, Peach
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Fructose, Tapioca, Whey, Corn, Peach, Citric Acid, Carrot, Turmeric
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mott's Llp — Daiquiri-margarita Mix
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Strawberry, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-van Camp — Orange Thirst Quencher, Orange
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #6
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
Search Any Product
Check any grocery product against the full MRT 176 panel — not just Citric Acid.
Open the Food Checker