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 183 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
R. C. Bigelow, Inc. — Iced Tea & Lemonade with Pomegranate
Cane Sugar, Tea, Lemon, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — White Cranberry Strawberry Flavored Juice Drink with Another Juice From Concentrate, White Cranberry Strawberry
Grape, Cane Sugar, Cranberry, Strawberry, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods, Llc — Renew Apple & Aloe Dices in Raspberry Juice Blend, Apple & Aloe Dices
Apple, Grape, Raspberry, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Minute Maid Company — PINEAPPLE HORCHATA ACUAS FRESCAS JUICE BEVERAGE, PINEAPPLE HORCHATA
Pineapple, Cane Sugar, Rice, Cinnamon, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Betty Crocker Hershey's Milk Chocolate Frosting
Cane Sugar, Corn, Cocoa, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Diet Coke Cans, 7.5 Fl Oz, 6 Pack
Aspartame, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid, Caffeine
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Bassetts Jelly Santas Candy
Cane Sugar, Corn, Sodium Metabisulfite, Beef, Apple, Strawberry, Raspberry, Citric Acid, Wheat
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — 100% JUICE PUNCH
Apple, Grape, Orange, Pineapple, Cherry, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — White Icing
Cane Sugar, Soybean, Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Veggie & Fruit Juice Fusions
Apple, Pear, Pumpkin, Sweet Potato, Squash, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — CHERRY JAMMERS FLAVORED DRINK, CHERRY
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Orange, Pineapple, Strawberry
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — PINK LEMONADE FROM CONCENTRATE JUICE DRINK, PINK LEMONADE
Cane Sugar, Lemon, Citric Acid, Corn, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — MEATLESS PLANT-BASED BREAKFAST PATTIES
Soybean, Canola/Rapeseed, Maple Sugar, Yeast (Baker's), Tapioca, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Gatorade Fierce Melon Thirst Quencher 28F luid Ounce Bottle
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Honey Hickory Flavored Rub, Honey Hickory
Cane Sugar, Onion, Corn, Garlic, Honey, Black Pepper, Chili Pepper, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid, Turmeric
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — WHOLE FOODS MARKET, GREEK YOUGURT
Yogurt, Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Vanilla, Coumarin/Vanillin, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — PIZZA FULLY PREPARED SAUCE WITH 100% EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL, PIZZA
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Olive, Garlic, Onion, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — V8 V-fusion Beverage Orange Kiwi
Sweet Potato, Carrot, Apple, Orange, Grape, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — CREAMERY DAIRY DESSERT
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Whey
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — ROMA STYLE TOMATOES SAUCE
Tomato, Citric Acid, Onion, Garlic, Chili Pepper, Capsaicin
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
RASPBERRY CANDY LACES
Wheat, Cane Sugar, Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — NON FAT YOGURT
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — JELLY, MILD RED PEPPER
Cane Sugar, Chili Pepper, Capsaicin, Solanine, Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — CANDY SHOP, PEACH RINGS
Corn, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — STRAWBERRY LEMONADE FLAVORED DRINK MIX, STRAWBERRY LEMONADE
Citric Acid, Corn, Aspartame, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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