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 121 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Bubblicious Gum Strawberry Big1x10 Pc
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Red #40, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Barilla G & R F.lli S.p.a. — Academia Barilla, Pesto Alla Genovese Sauce
Basil, Olive, Sunflower, Cashew, Cow's Milk, Garlic, Grape, Fructose, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Sahara Cuisine — Whole Foods Market, Roasted Eggplant
Eggplant, Citric Acid, Sesame, Garlic, Lemon
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Sara Lee Foods — Fully Cooked Sausage Links
Turkey, Citric Acid, Cane Sugar, Corn
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hawaii Associated Wholesale — Aloha Maid, Lilikoi Passion
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Marsh Supermarkets, Llc — Crushed Tomatoes
Tomato, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Lemon & Pepper Seasoning, Lemon & Pepper
Black Pepper, Citric Acid, Onion, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Celery, Lemon, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Dill Pickle Flavored Fried Cucumbers Crunchy Toppers, Dill Pickle
Cucumber, Wheat, Soybean, Citric Acid, Garlic, Yeast (Baker's)
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-van Camp — Grape Lower Sugar Thirst Quencher, Grape
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Snack Pack Lemon Lime Gels, 33 Oz
Cane Sugar, Apple, Carrageenan, Citric Acid, Carob, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Act Ii Butter Lovers Popcorn, 8.25 Oz
Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Frito-Lay Company — SWEET LIME & SEA SALT TORTILLA CHIPS, SWEET LIME & SEA SALT
Corn, Canola/Rapeseed, Sunflower, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Lime
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — V8 Splash Beverage Mango Peach
Corn, Fructose, Carrot, Citric Acid, Mango, Peach
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Hansen's Diet Creamy Root Beer Can, 12 Fl Oz
Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Campbell Soup Company — V8 Splash Beverage Pineapple Coconut
Fructose, Corn, Carrot, Sweet Potato, Citric Acid, Coconut, Cane Sugar
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods Company — Mixed Fruit in Peach Gel
Cane Sugar, Peach, Pear, Pineapple, Carrageenan, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — PINK LEMONADE SODA, PINK LEMONADE
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle USA Inc. — Fire Roasted Diced Green Chiles
Chili Pepper, Capsaicin, Solanine, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Asmar's Mediterranean Foods Inc. — Asmar's, Hommus Green Olives
Sesame, Olive, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Monster Energy Company — Half and Half Lemonade Tea, Raspberry
Cane Sugar, Lemon, Citric Acid, Tea, Raspberry
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Bj's Wholesale Club / Corporate Brands — Spinach & Artichoke Bites
Spinach, Citric Acid, Wheat, Cane Sugar, Yeast (Baker's), Cow's Milk
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Ocean Spray, Craisins, Dried Cranberries Fruit Cluster, Cranberry Granola
Cranberry, Cane Sugar, Glycerin/Glycerol, Citric Acid, Sunflower, Oat, Rice, Canola/Rapeseed, Barley, Malt, Honey
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Strawberry Smoothie Mix
Cane Sugar, Cow's Milk, Whey, Citric Acid, Egg White
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Ocean Spray, Wave, Apple White Cranberry Juice Drink From Concentrate with Other Natural Flavors, Berry Medley with White Cranberries
Cane Sugar, Beet, Apple, Cranberry, Citric Acid, Carrot
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Grape Cranberry Juice Drink
Grape, Cane Sugar, Cranberry, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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