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 128 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Del Monte, Sunfresh, Red Grapefruit
Grapefruit, Cane Sugar, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Cadia, Organic Roasted Garlic Pasta Sauce
Tomato, Garlic, Citric Acid, Carrot, Olive, Onion, Basil, Black Pepper, Oregano
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Coca-Cola USA Operations — FANTA, SODA, PINEAPPLE, PINEAPPLE
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez International, Inc. — SOUR PATCH KIDS, CANDY CANES
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Dannon, Light & Fit, Protein Shake, Nonfat Yogurt Drink, Mixed Berry
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Whey, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — MULLER CORNER GREEK BLACKBERRY RASPBERRY 5.3Z
Yogurt, Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Whey, Raspberry, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Minute Maid Company — 100% ORCHARD BERRY JUICE BLEND, ORCHARD BERRY
Apple, Pear, Grape, Raspberry, Strawberry, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Cedar's Mediterranean Foods, Inc. — STUFFED GRAPE LEAVES
Rice, Onion, Grape, Soybean, Citric Acid, Mint/Menthol
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — VANILLA FLAVORED FOUNTAIN & SHAKE SYRUP, VANILLA
Corn, Fructose, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Coumarin/Vanillin
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Yoplait USA — HARVEST PEACH FLAVORED SMOOTH STYLE ORIGINAL LOW FAT YOGURT, HARVEST PEACH
Yogurt, Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Corn, Peach, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-Van Camp — FRUIT PUNCH FLAVORED SPORTS FUEL DRINK, FRUIT PUNCH
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — LEMON NON-ALCOHOLIC WHISKEY SOUR MIX, LEMON
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Lemon, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Metabisulfite, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez International, Inc. — BUBBLEGUM MEGA SUGAR FREE GUM WITH XYLITOL, BUBBLEGUM
Glycerin/Glycerol, Aspartame, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez International, Inc. — MANGO SOFT & CHEWY CANDY, MANGO
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Cape Cod Potato Chips Inc. — CAPE COD, KETTLE COOKED POTATO CHIPS, SEA SALT & VINEGAR
Potato, Canola/Rapeseed, Corn, Citric Acid, Cane Sugar, Apple
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Good Humor-Breyers Ice Cream — FRUIT POPS
Cane Sugar, Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Beet, Turmeric
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-Van Camp — RIPTIDE RUSH CRISP & COOL THIRST QUENCHER, RIPTIDE RUSH
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — MIXED BERRY SMOOTHIE DRINKS
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Whey
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — RASPBERRY LEMONADE DRINK MIX, RASPBERRY LEMONADE
Citric Acid, Aspartame, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Ocean Spray, Wave, Berry Medley
Cane Sugar, Beet, Apple, Cranberry, Citric Acid, Carrot
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Sara Lee Foods — Jimmy Dean, Turkey Sausage Crumbles
Turkey, Cane Sugar, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid, Beef
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Diet Cranberry Juice Drink From Concentrate, Cranberry
Cranberry, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Casero Seasoning
Chili Pepper, Citric Acid, Rice, Lime
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-van Camp — Fruit Punch Zero Sugar Thirst Quencher, Fruit Punch
Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Carbonated Beverage with Sweeteners, Sparkling Cranberry
Cranberry, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Aspartame, Carrot
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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