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 184 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — SPARKLING ICED TEA, RASPBERRY
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Tea, Caffeine, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — PINK LEMONADE ZERO SUGAR FLAVORED LOW CALORIE DRINK MIX, PINK LEMONADE
Citric Acid, Aspartame, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, FD&C Red #40, Corn
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Monster Energy Company — Diet Premium Soda
Citric Acid, Orange
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Post Consumer Brands, Llc — Sweetened Corn and Oat Cereal
Corn, Cane Sugar, Oat, Coconut, Canola/Rapeseed, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Bj's Wholesale Club / Corporate Brands — Colossal Maraschino Cherries with Stems
Cherry, Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40, Sodium Metabisulfite
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-van Camp — Gatorade, Thirst Quencher, Grape
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, Blue #1, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Probiotic Drink with Bifidus
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Fructose, Strawberry, Corn, Citric Acid, Carrot, Carob
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Q — Spectacular Ginger Beer
Fructose, Citric Acid, Ginger, Chili Pepper, Coriander/Cilantro, Lime, Orange
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle Usa-prepared Foods Division, Inc. — Marinara Sauce
Tomato, Citric Acid, Onion, Canola/Rapeseed, Corn, Cane Sugar, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Lipton, Tea & Honey, Half & Half Decaf Iced Black Tea Mix, Iced Tea, Berry Lemonade Flavor with Other Natural Flavor, Iced Tea, Berry Lemonade Flavor with Other Natural Flavor
Cane Sugar, Honey, Citric Acid, Tea, Corn, Sodium Metabisulfite
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Lipton, Liquid Iced Black Tea Mix, Lemon Flavor with Other Natural Flavor, Lemon Flavor with Other Natural Flavor
Tea, Glycerin/Glycerol, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Sodium Metabisulfite, Carrot
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle USA Inc. — Milk Powder, Strawberry
Cane Sugar, Beet, Corn, Carrageenan, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Fanta Orange Mexico Glass Bottle, 500 Ml
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Orville Redenbachers Pour Over Movie Theater Butter Popcorn, 9.9 Oz
Corn, Citric Acid, Soybean, Cow's Milk
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Betty Crocker Creamy Butter Mashed Potatoes
Potato, Solanine, Corn, Canola/Rapeseed, Soybean, Sunflower, Cow's Milk, Whey, Sodium Metabisulfite, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Cascadian Farm Organic Crinkle Cut French Fries
Potato, Canola/Rapeseed, Apple, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Mountain Dew Baja Blast 5 Gallon Bag in Box
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Caffeine, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Blue Sky Zero Root Beer Can, 12 Fl Oz
Citric Acid, Corn
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Progresso Organic Garden Vegetable Soup
Tomato, Carrot, Celery, Corn, Green Pea, Potato, Onion, Solanine, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Wheat, Canola/Rapeseed, Citric Acid, Parsley
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Mixed Berry Flavor Dairy Snack
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Whey, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Corn, Carrot
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Hollandise Sauce Mix
Wheat, Corn, Egg White, Egg Yolk, Yeast (Baker's), Onion, Mustard, Paprika, Turmeric, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Citric Acid, Lemon
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle USA Inc. — Ortega, Taco Sauce, Original
Tomato, Corn, Paprika, Citric Acid, Chili Pepper, Onion
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Mccormick, Culinary, Southwest Seasoning
Onion, Garlic, Corn, Chili Pepper, Citric Acid, Paprika
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Minute Maid Company — Fruit Drink
Fructose, Corn, Grape, Pear, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kellogg Company Us — Kellogg Fruit Pieces Disney Frozen Movie 16oz
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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