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 137 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Kellogg Company Us — Kellogg Other Licensed Fruit Pieces Looney Tunes .8oz
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Orville Redenbachers Mini Movie Theater Butter Popcorn, 15 Oz
Corn, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Orville Redenbachers Butter Popcorn, 8.7 Oz
Corn, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — V8 Splash Beverage Berry
Fructose, Corn, Carrot, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Muir Glen Org Pasta Sauce San Marzano Style W Itln Herbs
Tomato, Onion, Olive, Garlic, Basil, Oregano, Black Pepper, Citric Acid, Thyme
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Diet Coke Bottle, 16.9 Fl Oz
Aspartame, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid, Caffeine
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Dannon, Light & Fit, Nonfat Yogurt, Strawberry
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Strawberry, Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Petite Diced Tomatoes with Chipotle Chilies
Tomato, Chili Pepper, Citric Acid, Onion, Cane Sugar
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Coca-Cola USA Operations — ICED TEA, GREEN TEA
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Tea, Caffeine, Honey
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — GELATIN DESSERT, STRAWBERRY, BERRY BLUE
Cane Sugar, Pork, Beef, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Foods-Snack Foods Group — PORK SMOKED SAUSAGE, SPICY CHILI & GARLIC
Pork, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Chili Pepper, Celery, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — SUGAR FREE BUBBLE BREEZE ICE CUBES GUM, BUBBLE BREEZE
Aspartame, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Corn
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Tropicana Twister Light Fruit Punch 59 Fluid Ounce Paper Carton
Grape, Apple, Pear, Pineapple, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Gatorade Frost Rain Berry Thirst Quencher 32 Fluid Ounce Plastic Bottle
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, Blue #1, Fructose
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Cranberry & Chocolate Trail Mix, Cranberry & Chocolate
Almond, Cane Sugar, Cashew, Citric Acid, Cocoa, Cranberry, Glycerin/Glycerol, Lecithin (Soy), Peanut, Soybean
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle USA Inc. — PEAR VANILLA FLAVORED FRUIT & YOGURT SMOOTHIES, PEAR VANILLA
Pear, Yogurt, Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Tapioca, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
LOWFAT COTTAGE CHEESE & MANGO TOPPING
Cottage Cheese, Cow's Milk, Whey, Mango, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — SRIRACHA CHILI SAUCE, SRIRACHA
Chili Pepper, Paprika, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Citric Acid, Corn
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — KNUDSEN, SMALL CURD COTTAGE CHEESE
Cottage Cheese, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid, Carrageenan, Carob, Polysorbate 80
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Coca-Cola USA Operations — FANTA, SODA, MANGO, MANGO
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — CITRUS GREEN TEA LIQUID WATER ENHANCER, CITRUS GREEN TEA
Citric Acid, Corn, Tea, Aspartame, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Strawberry Fruit Spread
Corn, Fructose, Sodium Metabisulfite, Strawberry, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Juice Drink
Cane Sugar, Beet, Cranberry, Mango, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Monster Energy Company — Natural Cane Tonic Soda
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Bj's Wholesale Club / Corporate Brands — Original Hummus
Sesame, Sunflower, Garlic, Citric Acid, Cumin
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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