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 159 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
The Minute Maid Company — Strawberry Lemonade Juices, Strawberry Lemonade
Fructose, Corn, Lemon, Strawberry, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Tea of a Kind — Pineapple Coconut Yerba Mate Real Brewed Tea, Pineapple Coconut Yerba Mate
Tea, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
TURKEY HILL LEMONADE TEA, ONE GALLON
Fructose, Corn, Cane Sugar, Tea, Citric Acid, Lemon
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Soft Candy Bunnies Fat Freeeaster12x3.1 Oz
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Kids Soft Candy Blue Fat Free1x5.000 Lb
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Aqfs Lqenh Mxd Bry 1.62oz Pet
Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Soft Candy Big Bag Fat Free1x9 Oz
Cane Sugar, Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Mtn Dew Soda (6 - 16.9 Fluid Ounce) 101.4 Fluid Ounce 6 Pack Plastic Bottles
Fructose, Corn, Orange, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Bassetts Classics Candy Lemon Sherbet
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Turmeric, Cow's Milk
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Fanta Orange Soda Cans, 7.5 Fl Oz, 8 Pack
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Perdue Farms Incorporated — Perdue, Short Cuts, Carved Chicken Breast, Honey Roasted
Chicken, Honey, Fructose, Lemon, Citric Acid, Cane Sugar, Soybean
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Newman's Own, Inc. — Newman's Own, Pasta Sauce, Roasted Garlic
Tomato, Citric Acid, Garlic, Soybean, Cane Sugar, Onion, Olive
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Beyond Meat — Plant-based Protein Crumbles
Green Pea, Canola/Rapeseed, Sunflower, Rice, Yeast (Baker's), Tomato, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Onion, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market — Greek Mix Olives Pitted
Olive, Grape, Sunflower, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods, Llc — Mixed Fruit Sliced Strawberries, Pineapple Chunks, Mango Chunks, & Sliced Peaches, Mixed Fruit
Strawberry, Pineapple, Mango, Peach, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-van Camp — Glacier Freeze Zero Sugar Thirst Quencher Powder, Glacier Freeze
Citric Acid, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Kellogg Company Us — Kellogg's Fruit Pieces Disney Inside Out .8oz
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Lipton — Ranch Recipe Soup & Dip Mix
Onion, Garlic, MSG, Parsley, Citric Acid, Corn
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Italian Chicken with Basil & Garlic
Tomato, Corn, Garlic, Basil, Paprika, Olive, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Boar's Head Provision Co., Inc. — Boar's Head, All Natural Hummus, Roasted Garlic
Sesame, Garlic, Sunflower, Olive, Citric Acid, Cumin
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
R. C. Bigelow, Inc. — Bigelow, Liquid Water Enhancer, Raspberry Hibiscus Tea
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Clif Bar and Company — Clif, Bloks, Energy Chews, Citrus
Tapioca, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Sunflower
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Triple Zero Nonfat Yogurt
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Italian Soda
Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, Carrot
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-van Camp — Cool Blue Thirst Quencher
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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