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 123 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
General Mills, Inc. — BETTY CROCKER, HERSHEY'S, SPECIAL DARK PREMIUM FROSTING
Cane Sugar, Fructose, Corn, Cocoa, Canola/Rapeseed, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Frito-Lay Company — SEA SALT & VINEGAR FLAVORED POTATO SNACKS, SEA SALT & VINEGAR
Potato, Sunflower, Corn, Canola/Rapeseed, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Russ Davis Wholesale — MEDIUM HATCH LARGE SALSA, MEDIUM HATCH
Tomato, Citric Acid, Chili Pepper, Onion, Garlic, Coriander/Cilantro
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream Inc. — Light Ice Cream, Maine Blueberries & Cream
Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Corn, Whey, Blueberry, Citric Acid, Carrageenan
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kellogg Company Us — Kellogg Fruit Pieces Non-licensed Strawberry 5.5oz
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-van Camp — Orange Endurance Formula Thirst Quencher Powder, Orange
Cane Sugar, Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Muir Glen Organic Crushed Fire Roasted Tomatoes
Tomato, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Betty Crocker Rich & Creamy Cherry Frosting
Cane Sugar, Corn, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #2, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Izze Sparkling Apple 8.4 Fluid Ounce Aluminum Can
Apple, Grape, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Good Humor-Breyers Ice Cream — BANANA, ORANGE JUICE AND STRAWBERRY FRUIT ICE POPS
Banana, Orange, Strawberry, Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
La Victoria Foods Inc. — MEDIUM THICK'N CHUNKY SALSA, MEDIUM THICK'N CHUNKY
Tomato, Onion, Chili Pepper, Garlic, Coriander/Cilantro, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — GREEK NONFAT YOGURT, RASPBERRY
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Raspberry, Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — CRYSTAL LIGHT, DRINK MIX, MARGARITA, MARGARITA
Citric Acid, Corn, Aspartame, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — BLACK CHERRY LIME LIQUID DRINK MIX, BLACK CHERRY LIME
Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1, Benzoic Acid, Cherry, Lime
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Unilever Uk Limited — Colmanis, Mustard
Mustard, Cane Sugar, Wheat, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Apple White Cranberry Juice Drink
Cane Sugar, Beet, Apple, Cranberry, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Ocean Spray, Wave, Apple White Cranberry Juice Drink, Apple with White Cranberries
Cane Sugar, Beet, Apple, Cranberry, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. — Coffee
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Lemon
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Naturally Flavored Hazelnut Coffee Creamer, Hazelnut
Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Soybean, Lecithin (Soy), Citric Acid, Carrageenan
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dollar Only Wholesale, Llc — Global Brands, Wild Crazy, Fruit Snacks
Corn, Cane Sugar, Beef, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Clif Bar and Company — Clif, Energy Gel Shot
Corn, Cane Sugar, Coffee, Caffeine, Tea, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Kahuna Crunch Trail Mix, Kahuna Crunch
Cashew, Cranberry, Cane Sugar, Sunflower, Pineapple, Citric Acid, Almond, Canola/Rapeseed
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Trix Cereal
Corn, Cane Sugar, Rice, Canola/Rapeseed, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #6, Blue #1, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Fruit + Veggie Squeezers, Apple-cinnamon
Pear, Pumpkin, Carrot, Apple, Citric Acid, Cinnamon
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Cacio E Pepe Pasta Sauce, Cacio E Pepe
Cow's Milk, Citric Acid, Olive, Black Pepper
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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