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 125 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Fruit Water
Grapefruit, Orange, Grape, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Steve's Mediterranean Chef — Tabouli
Tomato, Parsley, Wheat, Canola/Rapeseed, Olive, Lemon, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Metabisulfite, Onion, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Concord Grape Jelly, Concord Grape
Grape, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hormel Foods Corporation — Medium Thick & Chunky Salsa, Medium
Tomato, Onion, Chili Pepper, Corn, Garlic, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-van Camp — Arctic Blitz Crisp & Cool Thirst Quencher, Arctic Blitz
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, Blue #1, Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Hunt's Tomato Sauce with Basil, Garlic, and Oregano, 8 Oz, 8 Oz
Tomato, Garlic, Citric Acid, Oregano, Basil, Chili Pepper
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Angela Mia No Salt Added Marinara Sauce, #10 Can, 6/104 Oz., 104 Oz
Tomato, Onion, Cane Sugar, Olive, Garlic, Basil, Black Pepper, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Red Bull North America, Inc. — STRAWBERRY APRICOT ENERGY DRINK, STRAWBERRY APRICOT
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Caffeine, Strawberry, Apricot
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — V8 Beverage Mango
Tomato, Sweet Potato, Citric Acid, Mango, Chili Pepper
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Ocean Spray Cran Grape Juice Cocktail 15.2 Fluid Ounce Plastic Bottle
Grape, Cane Sugar, Beet, Cranberry, Carrot, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Simply Light Orange Pulp Free with Calcium & Vit D(nectar) Bottle, 52 Fl Oz
Orange, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Boar's Head Provision Co., Inc. — Traditional Hummus
Sunflower, Olive, Sesame, Citric Acid, Garlic, Cumin
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Real Fruit Juice!
Pineapple, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Lawry's, Lemon Pepper, with Zest of Lemon
Black Pepper, Citric Acid, Lemon, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Onion
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Monster Energy Company — Texas Style Sweet Tea
Tea, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream Inc. — Fruit Ice Bars
Strawberry, Cane Sugar, Carob, Citric Acid, Beet, Turmeric
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market — Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Sweet Potato, Maple Sugar, Ginger, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — SLAMMIN' SRIRACHA CHILI SAUCE
Chili Pepper, Paprika, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Citric Acid, Corn
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Starbucks Coffee Company — Very Berry Hibiscus Flavored Instant Beverage with Green Coffee Extract Packets, Very Berry Hibiscus
Cane Sugar, Grape, Corn, Coffee, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Minute Maid Company — Mango Passion Flavored Zerosugar Fruit Drink, Mango Passion
Lemon, Mango, Apple, Citric Acid, Aspartame
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Clif Bar and Company — Razz Energy Gel, Razz
Corn, Cane Sugar, Raspberry, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — ROASTED RED PEPPER HUMMUS, ROASTED RED PEPPER
Sesame, Canola/Rapeseed, Garlic, Citric Acid, Chili Pepper, Capsaicin
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Hunts Tomato Sauce, #10 Can, 6/105 Oz., 105 Oz
Tomato, Citric Acid, Onion, Garlic, Chili Pepper
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Hunts Diced Tomatoes with Basil Garlic and Oregano No Salt Added, 14.5 Oz
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Basil, Oregano, Parsley, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — FAVEREDS WATERMELON, CHERRY, STRAWBERRY & FRUIT PUNCH FRUIT CHEWS, FAVEREDS
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Tapioca, Apple, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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