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 168 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
P. K. Kinder Co., Inc. — Mediterranean with Smoky Lemon & Herbs Premium Seasoning, Mediterranean with Smoky Lemon & Grass
Garlic, Cane Sugar, Lemon, Onion, Corn, Sunflower, Citric Acid, Chili Pepper
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Clif Bar and Company — Cran-razz Energy Chews, Cran-razz
Tapioca, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Carrot, Sunflower
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Fiesta Strawberry Puree, Wide-mouth Jugs, 118 Oz
Corn, Fructose, Strawberry, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Blue Bonnet Light Soft Spread, 15 Oz
Soybean, Corn, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Rotel Diced Chili Fixins Tomatoes, 10 Oz
Tomato, Chili Pepper, Garlic, Oregano, Cumin, Onion, Citric Acid, Coriander/Cilantro
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Orville Redenbachers Salt and Vinegar Popcorn, 16 Oz
Corn, Citric Acid, Cow's Milk
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — HOLIDAY MIX HARD CANDY, CHERRY, APPLE & PEPPERMINT
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Muir Glen Organic Petite Diced Tomatoes
Tomato, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Yoplait Light Very Vanilla Fat Free Yogurt
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Corn, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Pure Leaf Peach Tea 18.5 Fluid Ounce Bottle
Tea, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Caffeine
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Halls Defense Cough Drops Assorted Citrus 1x80 1n
Corn, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Sprite Bottle, 12 Fl Oz
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Philadelphia Cream Cheese Supermix Light 125 Gr
Cow's Milk, Carrageenan, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Trader Joe's — Greek Nonfat Yogurt
Cow's Milk, Coconut, Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Yogurt
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Greek Garden Blueberry Nonfat Yogurt
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Blueberry, Cane Sugar, Fructose, Corn, Carrageenan, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — ZAPPIN' TROPICAL PUNCH SOUR JAMMERS FLAVORED DRINK, ZAPPIN' TROPICAL PUNCH
Fructose, Corn, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mott's Llp — Half & Half Lemonade Iced Tea
Cane Sugar, Lemon, Tea, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Sager Creek Vegetable Company, Hummus, Chipotle, Chipotle
Sesame, Olive, Tomato, Chili Pepper, Garlic, Citric Acid, Onion, Coriander/Cilantro
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — HUNT'S, PASTA SAUCE, GARLIC & HERB, HUNT'S, PASTA SAUCE, GARLIC & HERB
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Canola/Rapeseed, Onion, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — Campbell's Beans Pork & Beans
Navy Bean, Chicken, Tomato, Fructose, Corn, Cane Sugar, Pork, Citric Acid, Paprika, Onion, Wheat
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Monster Energy Company — Peace Tea, Georgia Peach Tea
Tea, Cane Sugar, Fructose, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills, Inc. — BETTY CROCKER, PETER PAUL, ALMOND JOY PREMIUM FROSTING
Cane Sugar, Corn, Canola/Rapeseed, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle Waters North America Inc. — Tradewinds, Jimmy Buffett's, Island Iced Tea, Pineapple, Coconut
Cane Sugar, Apple, Pear, Citric Acid, Orange, Tea
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Minute Maid Company — Minute Maid, Fruit Drink, Peach
Fructose, Corn, Apple, Peach, Citric Acid, Cane Sugar, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle USA Inc. — Pasta Sauce, Marinara, Marinara
Tomato, Citric Acid, Cane Sugar, Soybean, Onion, Carrot, Celery, Garlic, Black Pepper, Oregano, Basil
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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