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.
Risk Distribution
How products containing Citric Acid break down by total trigger count:
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 163 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Kellogg Company Us — Kellogg Other Licensed Fruit Pieces Barbie 8oz
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico, Inc — Orange Strawberry Banana Burst Flavored Drink, Orange Strawberry Banana Burst
Corn, Fructose, Orange, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — STRAWBERRY REMIX SUGARFREE GUM, STRAWBERRY REMIX
Glycerin/Glycerol, Aspartame, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Blue Bonnet Light Margarine, 1 Lb
Soybean, Lecithin (Soy), Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Muir Glen Whole Peeled San Marzano Style Tomatoes with Basil
Tomato, Basil, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Kids Soft Candy Tricksters Fat Free1x8 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 |
|
Pepsico — Mtn Dew Soda 16 Fluid Ounce Plastic Bottle
Fructose, Corn, Orange, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
GENERAL MILLS SALES INC. — Annie's Farm Friends & Cheddar Pasta & Cheese
Wheat, Whey, Cow's Milk, American Cheese, Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Diced Mangos & Pineapple Tidbits in 100% Fruit Juice
Mango, Pineapple, Grape, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Lemon Pepper
Black Pepper, Citric Acid, Lemon, Cane Sugar, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — GEVALIA, ICED COFFEE WITH ALMOND MILK, VANILLA, VANILLA
Coffee, Almond, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Sunflower, Vanilla
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hormel Foods Corporation — Goteborg
Beef, Pork, Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
GRENADINE SYRUP
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Diet Pepsi Cola (6 - 24 Fluid Ounce) 144 Fluid Ounce 6 Pack Plastic Bottles
Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Napoleon Co. — Napoleon, Roasted Piquillo Peppers, Sweet & Flavorful
Chili Pepper, Solanine, Capsaicin, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Ocean Spray, Diet Juice Drink, Cranberry Lime
Cranberry, Lime, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods Company — Smooth Peach-apple Sauce with Pieces of Pineapple
Pineapple, Peach, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Apple, Tapioca
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Ocean Spray, Cranberry Apple Juice Drink
Cane Sugar, Cranberry, Apple, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Market Pantry — Lemon Drops
Cane Sugar, Corn, Lemon, Citric Acid, Fructose, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Market Pantry — Mandarin Oranges
Orange, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Ruby Cranberry Ruby Red Grapefruit Cranberry Juice Drink Blend From Concentrate, Ruby Cranberry
Grapefruit, Cane Sugar, Beet, Cranberry, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods, Llc — 100% Pineapple & Mango Juice From Concentrate with Added Ingredients, Pineapple & Mango
Pineapple, Mango, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Solero — Crushed Fruit Bars
Cow's Milk, Whey, Cane Sugar, Fructose, Coconut, Lemon, Citric Acid, Vanilla, Coumarin/Vanillin, Carob
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Sara Lee Foods — Premium Meat Honey Roasted Turkey Breast
Turkey, Honey, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ski — Cherry Lemon Orange Authentic Citrus Soda
Fructose, Corn, Lemon, Orange, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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