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 179 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Mccormick, Perfect Pinch, Seasoning, Fiesta Citrus
Chili Pepper, Capsaicin, Cumin, Corn, Garlic, Onion, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Lemon, Paprika, Lime, Fructose
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The J.M. Smucker Company — BLUEBERRY SYRUP, BLUEBERRY
Corn, Fructose, Blueberry, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — 365 Everyday Value, Potato Chips, Barbeque
Potato, Sunflower, Safflower, Canola/Rapeseed, Cane Sugar, Tomato, Onion, Garlic, Black Pepper, Citric Acid, Chili Pepper, Paprika
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — TWIZZLERS, PULL 'N' PEEL CANDY, CHERRY, CHERRY
Corn, Wheat, Cane Sugar, Glycerin/Glycerol, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — PULL 'N' PEEL CANDY, WATERMELON
Corn, Wheat, Cane Sugar, Glycerin/Glycerol, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — PRG RSTD GAR PET 45OZ
Tomato, Canola/Rapeseed, Garlic, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Onion
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — DRINK MIX, RASPBERRY LEMONADE
Citric Acid, Aspartame, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Yoplait USA — CARAMEL CREAM DESSERT, CARAMEL CREAM
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Whey
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — DICED TOMATOES WITH ROASTED GARLIC & ONION, ROASTED GARLIC & ONION
Tomato, Garlic, Onion, Olive, Citric Acid, Cane Sugar
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods Company — Smoothie Blends
Strawberry, Banana, Blueberry, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Gatorade G2 Low Calorie FrtPnch/GlcrFrz/Grpe Variety Pack (18 - 12 Fl Oz) 216 Fluid Ounce 18 Pack Plastic Bottles
Citric Acid, Cane Sugar, Corn, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1, Glycerin/Glycerol
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — STRAWBERRY CREAM CHEESE SPREAD, STRAWBERRY
Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Strawberry, Whey, Citric Acid, Carob
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — V8 V-fusion Beverage Cbry Blkbry
Sweet Potato, Carrot, Apple, Grape, Cranberry, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Betty Crocker Whipped Fluffy White Frosting
Cane Sugar, Corn, Polysorbate 80, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CRUNCHY TREASURES AGED WHITE CHEDDAR BAKED RICE AND CORN PUFFS
Rice, Corn, Sunflower, Whey, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
BLUE RASPBERRY MARTINI COCKTAIL MIX
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Blue #1, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Metabisulfite
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Kids Soft Candy Tropical Fat Free1x3.5 Oz
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — SWEET TEA
Tea, Cane Sugar, Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — TORONJA SOL, FLAVORED SODA, GRAPEFRUIT, GRAPEFRUIT
Grapefruit, Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods Company — Pineapple Tidbits
Pineapple, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Terrapin Ridge Farms Llc — Mustard
Corn, Mustard, Apple, Chili Pepper, Garlic, Grape, Lime, Citric Acid, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle Waters North America Inc. — Nestea, Iced Tea, Lemon
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Tea, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Old Bay, Lemon & Herb Seasoning
Celery, Chili Pepper, Bay Leaf, Citric Acid, Paprika, Corn, Lemon
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Lowfat Yogurt Drink
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Barilla G & R F.lli S.p.a. — Chunky Traditional Sauce, Chunky Traditional
Tomato, Citric Acid, Cane Sugar, Onion, Garlic, Carrot, Basil, Olive, Parsley, Oregano
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
Search Any Product
Check any grocery product against the full MRT 176 panel — not just Citric Acid.
Open the Food Checker