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 155 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Conagra Brands — Act Ii Butter, 16.5 Oz
Corn, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Muir Glen Organic Tomato Puree
Tomato, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Minute Maid Light Fruit Punch Bottle, 59 Fl Oz
Apple, Pear, Grape, Pineapple, Citric Acid, Corn, Fructose, Aspartame
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Triscuit Crackers Cracked Pepper and Olive Oil 1x8.5 Oz
Wheat, Canola/Rapeseed, Rice, Black Pepper, Onion, Garlic, Olive, Citric Acid, Celery
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — Plum Baby Baby Food Pumpkin Banana Papaya
Pumpkin, Banana, Citric Acid, Papaya, Lemon
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Foods-Snack Foods Group — TENDER STEAK STRIPS, SMOKIN' MESQUITE
Beef, Cane Sugar, Corn, Soybean, MSG, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
GENERAL MILLS SALES INC. — Yoplait Smooth Blueberry Low Fat Yogurt
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Blueberry, Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — MEXICAN STEWED TOMATOES, MEXICAN
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Onion, Celery, Citric Acid, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-van Camp — Thirst Quencher
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Sweet Potato, Glycerin/Glycerol, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Gatorade Fierce Melon Thirst Quencher 32 Fluid Ounce Bottle.
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Gatorade Frost Rain Berry Thirst Quencher 12 Fluid Ounce Plastic Bottle
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, Blue #1, Fructose
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods, Llc — Red Grapefruit Sunrise in a Blend of 100% Fruit Juices
Grapefruit, Grape, Lemon, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Grape Cranberry Flavored 100% Juice Blend From Concentrate, Grape Cranberry
Grape, Apple, Cranberry, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
ConAgra Foods Packaged Foods, LLC — MEDIUM DOUBLE ROASTED TOMATO SALSA, MEDIUM DOUBLE ROASTED TOMATO
Tomato, Garlic, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Onion, Chili Pepper
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Betty Crocker Toy Story Fruit Snacks 20 Count
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, Sunflower
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — PINK LEMONADE SUGARFREE GUM, PINK LEMONADE
Glycerin/Glycerol, Citric Acid, Aspartame, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hormel Foods Corporation — PEPPERONI
Pork, Beef, Corn, Paprika, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — DANONE, DAIRY DRINK, STRAWBERRY FRESA
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Fructose, Strawberry, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
BROWN'N SERVE PORK SAUSAGE LINKS
Pork, Turkey, Soybean, Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
MIXOLOGY LIME MARGARITA MOCKTAIL & MIXER
Cane Sugar, Lime, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Fruits Soft Candy Fruits Fat Free12x8.000 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 |
|
GENERAL MILLS SALES INC. — Betty Crocker Scooby-Doo! Fruit Flavored Snacks, 10 ct
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, Sunflower, Turmeric
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle USA Inc. — STRAWBERRY LOWFAT MILK, STRAWBERRY
Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Corn, Carrageenan, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #3
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Foods-Snack Foods Group — SLIM JIM, TENDER STEAK STRIPS, SMOKIN' MESQUITE, SMOKIN' MESQUITE
Beef, Cane Sugar, Soybean, MSG, Citric Acid, Corn
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Monster Energy Company — Hansen's, Diet Premium Soda, Tangerine Lime
Citric Acid, Lime
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
Search Any Product
Check any grocery product against the full MRT 176 panel — not just Citric Acid.
Open the Food Checker