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 145 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Conagra Brands — Hunts Diced Tomatoes Plain Variety, 13 Oz
Tomato, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Conagra Brands — Act Ii Sweet Cinnamon Popcorn, 8.25 Oz
Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Diet Coke Caffeine-free Bottles, 16.9 Fl Oz, 6 Pack
Aspartame, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Nabisco Rice Thins Crackers Brown Rice Thins Sea Salt and Black Pepper Gluten Free1x3.500 Oz
Rice, Potato, Corn, Safflower, Cane Sugar, Black Pepper, Sunflower, Citric Acid, Soybean, Sesame, Almond, Cashew, Hazelnut, Pecan, Pistachio, Walnut
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Kids Soft Candy Fire Fat Free1x7.2 Oz
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Tum-e Yummies Big Berry Blast Bottle, 10.1 Fl Oz
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hormel Foods Corporation — Thick & Chunky Salsa
Tomato, Onion, Chili Pepper, Corn, Garlic, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Trader Joe's, Lemon Pepper with Grinder
Black Pepper, Onion, Lemon, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Strawberry Preserves, Strawberry
Strawberry, Fructose, Corn, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Original Turkey Strips, Original
Turkey, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Black Pepper, Coriander/Cilantro, Nutmeg, Ginger, Celery, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Orville Redenbachers Kettle Korn Popcorn
Corn, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — WATERMELON FRUITY CHEWS SUGARFREE GUM, WATERMELON
Glycerin/Glycerol, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Aspartame, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Annie's Organic Papaya Poppy Seed Dressing
Canola/Rapeseed, Papaya, Cane Sugar, Carrot, Pumpkin, Apple, Mustard, Onion, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
SO DELICIOUS DAIRY FREE — CREAMY VANILLA OATMILK CREAMER, CREAMY VANILLA, OATMILK
Oat, Cane Sugar, Sunflower, Green Pea, Citric Acid, Vanilla
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dairylea Strip Cheese Processed Cheese-snack
Cow's Milk, Whey, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Ocean Spray, Craisins, Dried Cranberries, Cherry
Cranberry, Cane Sugar, Cherry, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The J.M. Smucker Company — SAHALE SNACKS, BERRY MACAROON ALMOND MIX
Almond, Cane Sugar, Cranberry, Sunflower, Coconut, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Tea
Cane Sugar, Beet, Peach, Cranberry, Tea, Citric Acid, Grape
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. — Seraphine, Seltzer Mix, Persian Lime
Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Nestle USA Inc. — Syrup
Cane Sugar, Cocoa, Cinnamon, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1, FD&C Yellow #6
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Market Pantry — Iced Pops
Fructose, Corn, Apple, Pear, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mott's Llp — Mistic, Bahama Blueberry, Flavored Juice Drink From the Concentrate, Blueberry
Corn, Fructose, Pear, Citric Acid, Blue #1, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mott's Llp — Tomato Cocktail From Concentrate
Tomato, Fructose, Corn, MSG, Citric Acid, Onion, Garlic, Clam, FD&C Red #40, Chili Pepper
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Lipton, Luscious Herbal Tea, Lemon Ginger Flavor with Other Natural Flavor, Lemon Ginger Flavor with Other Natural Flavor
Ginger, Corn, Tapioca, Citric Acid, Lemon, Orange, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Q — Spectacular Grapefruit
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Grapefruit
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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