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 181 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Nabisco Food Company — Spicy Cajun Pistachio Kernels, Spicy Cajun
Pistachio, Peanut, Celery, Paprika, Garlic, Onion, Tomato, Citric Acid, Yeast (Baker's), Mustard
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Hunts Choice Cut Diced Tomatoes, 14.5 Oz
Tomato, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Conagra Brands — Odoms Tennessee Pride Sausage Links, 0.625 Lb
Pork, Cane Sugar, Rosemary, MSG, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Banquet Original Links Biggie Bag, 27 Oz
Pork, Turkey, Soybean, Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Kids Soft Candy Tropical Fat Free1x8 Oz
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Ocean Spray Strawberry Kiwi Juice Cocktail 15.2 Fluid Ounce Plastic Bottle
Grape, Pear, Cane Sugar, Beet, Strawberry, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Diet Coke Caffeine-free Bottle, 20 Fl Oz
Aspartame, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — CAFFEINE FREE GRAPE SODA, GRAPE
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Greek, Nonfat Yogurt
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Apple, Fructose, Carrageenan, Cinnamon, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — GATORADE FIERCE GRAPE 1G/4
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, Blue #1, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle USA Inc. — STRAWBERRY COCONUT FRUIT & YOGURT SMOOTHIES, STRAWBERRY COCONUT
Strawberry, Coconut, Yogurt, Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Hodgepodge Harvest Trail Mix
Grape, Sunflower, Peanut, Date, Oat, Papaya, Cane Sugar, Pineapple, Citric Acid, Cranberry, Pumpkin, Almond
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods, LLC — FRUIT JUICE VARIETY PACK, YELLOW CLING DICED PEACHES, CHERRY MIXED FRUIT
Peach, Pear, Apple, Cherry, Lemon, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — Campbell's Ready To Use Traditional Tomato Sauce, Versatile Sauce, 106 Ounce Pouches, 6-Pack
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Canola/Rapeseed, Citric Acid, Onion, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — David Dill Pickle Sunflower Seeds
Sunflower, Soybean, Cane Sugar, Corn, Garlic, Onion, Citric Acid, Turmeric
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Annie's Organic Thousand Island Dressing
Soybean, Cane Sugar, Apple, Cucumber, Tomato, Egg White, Egg Yolk, Mustard, Onion, Lemon, Garlic, Chili Pepper, Citric Acid, Capsaicin, Fructose
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Mug Root Beer Soda 20 Fluid Ounce Plastic Bottle
Cane Sugar, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Swedish Fish Assorted Soft Candy Assorted Fat Free24x5 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 |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Superior Selection, Sparkling Soda, Sicilian Lemonade
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Sara Lee Foods — Galileo, Deli Thin Sliced Hard Salame
Pork, Beef, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Clif Bar and Company — Salted Watermelon Energy Chews, Salted Watermelon
Tapioca, Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Watermelon, Carrot, Sunflower
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Red Bull North America, Inc. — Energy Drink
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Caffeine
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Clif Bar and Company — Mountain Berry Flavor Energy Chews, Mountain Berry
Tapioca, Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Carrot, Blueberry, Sunflower
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico, Inc — Low Calorie Cream Soda, Cream
Benzoic Acid, Aspartame, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Strawberry Gels, 3.5 Oz, 14 Oz
Cane Sugar, Apple, Carrageenan, Citric Acid, Carob, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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