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 126 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Kids Soft Candy Tropical Fat Free1x16 Oz
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Stride Gum Melopeach Sugar Free1x14 Pc
Aspartame, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — V8 Beverage Vegetable Low Sodium
Tomato, Carrot, Celery, Beet, Parsley, Lettuce, Spinach, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Gilroy Farms, Minced Garlic
Garlic, Soybean, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Coca-Cola USA Operations — POWERADE, XION4, SPORTS DRINK WITH VITAMINS B3, B6 & B12, ORANGE, ORANGE
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #6, Orange
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Ocean Spray, Flavored Juice Drink, Light Cranberry & Raspberry
Apple, Cranberry, Grape, Raspberry, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Blu, Energy Drink, Mojito, Lime, Lemon, Mint
Cane Sugar, Caffeine, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Whole Foods Market, Greek Yogurt, Strawberry
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Strawberry, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Victoria Gourmet, Inc — Victoria Taylor's Seasonings, Victoria Taylor's Seasonings Zesty Lemon White Fish
Garlic, Onion, Cane Sugar, Black Pepper, Dill, Chili Pepper, Capsaicin, Celery, Lemon, Citric Acid, Orange, Paprika, Parsley
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Barilla G & R F.lli S.p.a. — Barilla, Roasted Garlic Sauce
Tomato, Citric Acid, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Onion, Parsley, Olive, Chili Pepper, Black Pepper
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle Waters North America Inc. — Slow Brewed Iced Tea
Cane Sugar, Pear, Tea, Citric Acid, Lemon
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle USA Inc. — Maggi, Bouillon Tablets, Beef
Corn, MSG, Cane Sugar, Onion, Beef, Turmeric, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Market Pantry — Pineapple Tidbits in Lightly Sweetened Pineapple Juice
Pineapple, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
The Minute Maid Company — Premium Limeade
Fructose, Corn, Lime, Cherry, Citric Acid, Grape, Cane Sugar
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Unilever — ICED WATERMELON CUCUMBER FLAVOR CAFFEINE FREE REFRESHERS HERBAL TEA & JUICE CONCENTRATE, ICED WATERMELON CUCUMBER
Watermelon, Cucumber, Cane Sugar, Orange, Citric Acid, Fructose
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods, Llc — Diced Apples in 100% Fruit Juice
Apple, Grape, Lemon, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Lipton, Iced Herbal Tea Berry Flavor with Other Natural Flavor, K-cup Pods, Berry Flavor with Other Natural Flavor
Corn, Tapioca, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Blueberry
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mott's Llp — Root Beer
Cane Sugar, Benzoic Acid, Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-van Camp — Thirst Quencher Powder
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Gumdrops
Cane Sugar, Tapioca, Corn, Orange, Lemon, Citric Acid, Cabbage, Paprika, Turmeric
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Lemon Sugar Sweetened Iced Tea Mix, Lemon
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Tea
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Kellogg Company — Fruit Flavored Snacks, Mixed Berry
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — FAVEREDS WATERMELON, CHERRY, STRAWBERRY & FRUIT PUNCH MINI FRUIT CHEWS, FAVEREDS
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Apple, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Betty Crocker Rich and Creamy Dark Chocolate Frosting
Cane Sugar, Cocoa, Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Muir Glen Org Diced Tomatoes San Marzano Style W Itln Herbs
Tomato, Citric Acid, Basil, Oregano, Garlic, Thyme
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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