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 138 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Barilla America, Inc. — Spicy Marinara Sauce
Tomato, Citric Acid, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Onion, Parsley, Olive, Chili Pepper, Black Pepper
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Oven Roasted Recipe & Seasoning Mix
Garlic, Black Pepper, Rosemary, Oregano, Cane Sugar, Onion, Citric Acid, Tomato, Corn, Lemon
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Pink Grapefruit Italian Soda, Pink Grapefruit
Grapefruit, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Carrot
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-van Camp — Lemon-lime Endurance Formula Thirst Quencher Powder, Lemon-lime
Cane Sugar, Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — ALL PINK STRAWBERRY FRUIT CHEWS, ALL PINK STRAWBERRY
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Tapioca, Apple, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Jolly Rancher Green Apple and Watermelon Fruit Roll-ups 10 Count
Corn, Cane Sugar, Pear, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Sliced Strawberry Topping, Wide-mouth Jugs, 118 Oz
Strawberry, Corn, Cane Sugar, Fructose, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle Dreyer's Ice Cream — Lime Fruit Ice Bars, Lime
Cane Sugar, Lime, Citric Acid, Lemon, Carob
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Diced Green Chiles - #10 Can, 100 Oz
Chili Pepper, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Conagra Brands — Hunts Spaghetti Tradition Sauce Twin Pack, 48 Oz
Tomato, Fructose, Corn, Soybean, Carrot, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico, Inc — Cream Soda, Cream
Corn, Fructose, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Act Ii Movie Theater Butter, 2.75 Oz
Corn, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Swedish Fish Assorted Soft Candy Assorted Fat Free12x3.5 Oz
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
LICORICE SHOE LACES CANDY
Wheat, Cane Sugar, Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Soft Candy Fat Free1x10 Oz
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Fuze Strawberry Lemonade Bottle, 1 Liter
Fructose, Corn, Lemon, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Nabisco Triscuit Crackers Coconut Toasted 1x9 Oz
Wheat, Soybean, Canola/Rapeseed, Cane Sugar, Coconut, Citric Acid, Cow's Milk, Whey, Sodium Metabisulfite
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Swedish Fish Soft Candy Tropical Fat Free1x8 Oz
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Victoria Fine Foods Llc — Victoria, Hot Dog Onions
Onion, Tomato, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hormel Foods Corporation — Pineapple Salsa
Tomato, Citric Acid, Pineapple, Chili Pepper, Corn, Onion, Cane Sugar
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Coca-Cola USA Operations — POWERADE, SPORTS DRINK WITH VITAMINS B3, B6 & B12, GRAPE, GRAPE
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Grape, Blue #1, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Chobani, Inc. — MILK & COOKIES FLAVOR YOGURT CULTURED ULTRA-FILTERED NONFAT MILK, MILK & COOKIES
Cow's Milk, Whey, Yogurt, Cocoa, Tapioca, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Bj's Wholesale Club / Corporate Brands — Spinach & Artichoke Four Cheese Dip, Spinach & Artichoke
Cow's Milk, Spinach, Whey, Carob, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hormel Foods Corporation — Chi-chi's, Restaurant Style Salsa, Medium
Tomato, Citric Acid, Chili Pepper, Onion, Garlic, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Unilever Bestfoods France — Honey Dijon Mustard
Cane Sugar, Mustard, Honey, Sodium Metabisulfite, Turmeric, Wheat, Citric Acid, Paprika
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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