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 149 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Ocean Spray, Craisins, Sweetened Dried Cranberries with Real Blueberry Juice
Cranberry, Cane Sugar, Grape, Blueberry, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Bj's Wholesale Club / Corporate Brands — Sauce
Cane Sugar, Pineapple, Solanine, Mango, Onion, Apple, Chili Pepper, Lemon, Canola/Rapeseed, Soybean, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Cape Cod Potato Chips Inc. — Cape Cod, Kettle Cooked Potato Chips, Sweet & Spicy Jalapeno
Potato, Canola/Rapeseed, Corn, Cane Sugar, Onion, Yeast (Baker's), Chili Pepper, Capsaicin, MSG, Garlic, Paprika, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Minute Maid Company — Minute Maid, Berry Punch
Fructose, Corn, Grape, Pear, Strawberry, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Minute Maid Company — Water Beverage
Grape, Pear, Raspberry, Blueberry, Strawberry, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Yoplait USA — Lowfat Yogurt
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Corn, Coconut, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mott's Llp — Non-alcoholic Margarita Mix
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Sodium Metabisulfite, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods, Llc — Tropical Acai Blend with Fruit & Granola Bowls, Tropical
Citric Acid, Banana, Mango, Oat, Coconut, Honey, Canola/Rapeseed
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Real Dried Aloe Vera + Ginger Snacks
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Sodium Metabisulfite
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Jolly Rancher Green Apple and Watermelon Fruit Roll-ups 20 Count
Corn, Cane Sugar, Pear, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Organic Pumpkin Cardamom Pasta Sauce, Pumpkin
Pumpkin, Tomato, Cane Sugar, Carrot, Cow's Milk, Canola/Rapeseed, Onion, Corn, Garlic, Citric Acid, Ginger, Coriander/Cilantro, Parsley, Black Pepper, Nutmeg, Chili Pepper, Cinnamon
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Yoplait USA — Apple Pie French Style Yogurt, Apple Pie
Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, Yogurt
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Hunt's Crushed Tomatoes with Basil, 28 Oz, 28 Oz
Tomato, Basil, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Ro*tel Original Diced Tomatoes and Green Chilies, 10 Ounce, 60 Oz
Tomato, Chili Pepper, Citric Acid, Coriander/Cilantro
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Orville Redenbachers Tender White Popcorn, 18.37 Oz
Corn, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Act Ii Light Butter Popcorn, 16.5 Oz
Corn, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Muir Glen Organic Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes, No Salt Added
Tomato, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Candy Watermelon 1x16 Oz
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Halls Defense Cough Drops Assorted Citrus 1x30 Pc
Corn, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Hubert's Lemonade Raspberry Glass Bottle, 16 Fl Oz
Lemon, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Company — Meijer, Yogurt, Mint & Chocolate Chip
Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Corn, Whey, Cocoa, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — PINK LEMONADE FLAVORED DRINK, PINK LEMONADE
Cane Sugar, Fructose, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40, Corn
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Ocean Spray, Cranberry Juice Drink with 2 Other Juices, From Concentrate, Light
Cranberry, Apple, Grape, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Kellogg Company — Sweet and Sour Fruit Flavored Snacks, Citrus
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Hunts Stewed Tomatoes, 14.5 Oz
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Onion, Celery, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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