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 153 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Califia Farms, Lp — Mocha Cold Brew 100% Arabica Coffee with Almondmilk, Mocha
Almond, Cane Sugar, Cocoa, Coffee, Citric Acid, Sunflower
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Fruit By the Foot Raspberry Lemonade & Blue Raspberry King Size Roll
Cane Sugar, Corn, Pear, Carrageenan, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle USA Inc. — 100% Juice, Cherry
Apple, Pear, Grape, Cherry, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Clif Bar and Company — Chocolate Cherry Energy Gel, Chocolate Cherry
Corn, Cane Sugar, Cocoa, Cherry, Tea, Caffeine, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-van Camp — Glacier Cherry Zero Sugar Thirst Quencher, Glacier Cherry
Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Kids Soft Candy Assorted Fruits Fat Free16x1.9 Lb
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Sierra Mist Lemon Lime Soda (8 - 12 Fl Oz) 96 Fluid Ounce 8 Pack Plastic Bottles-ia
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Philadelphia Cream Cheese-soft Plain Light
Cow's Milk, Carrageenan, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Watermelon Soft Candy Watermelon Fat Free12x72 1n
Cane Sugar, Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — V8 Beverage Caribbean Greens
Carrot, Sweet Potato, Spinach, Grape, Apple, Coconut, Citric Acid, Watermelon
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — 5th Season, Lemon & Pepper Seasoning Salt
Citric Acid, Black Pepper, Onion, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Corn, Lemon, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Boar's Head Provision Co., Inc. — Boar's Head, Hickory Smoked Gruyere, Pasteurized Process Gruyere Cheese
Cow's Milk, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
The Minute Maid Company — Berry Punch
Fructose, Corn, Grape, Cranberry, Blueberry, Lime, Citric Acid, Cane Sugar, Glycerin/Glycerol, Benzoic Acid, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — David Chili Lime Sunflower Seeds, 5.25 Oz
Sunflower, Soybean, Citric Acid, Onion, Yeast (Baker's), Yeast (Brewer's)
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Yoplait USA — BLUEBERRY FLAVORED SMOOTH STYLE ORIGINAL LOW FAT YOGURT, BLUEBERRY
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Blueberry, Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — 5 FLAVORS BIG RING GUMMIES CANDY, CHERRY, WATERMELON, GREEN APPLE, STRAWBERRY, BLACKBERRY
Corn, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Brisk Lemonade Juice Drink 2 Liter Plastic Bottle
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Lemon, Benzoic Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Fruits Soft Candy Assorted Fruits Fat Free1x2 Oz
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Halls Cough Drops Citrus Assorted 1x14 1n
Corn, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Premium Tomatoes Diced with Hatch Green Chilies
Tomato, Chili Pepper, Onion, Citric Acid, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Ocean Spray, Sparkling Flavored Juice Beverage, Citrus Tangerine
Grape, Grapefruit, Apple, Orange, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Probiotic Dairy Drink
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Fructose, Strawberry, Corn, Citric Acid, Carrot, Carob
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Cape Cod Potato Chips Inc. — Puffs
Corn, Rice, Canola/Rapeseed, Cow's Milk, Sunflower, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Q — Spectacular Ginger Ale
Citric Acid, Ginger, Coriander/Cilantro, Chili Pepper, Capsaicin, Orange, Fructose
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle USA Inc. — Mild Original Thick & Smooth Taco Sauce, Mild, Original
Tomato, Corn, Paprika, Citric Acid, Chili Pepper, Benzoic Acid, Onion
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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