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 187 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Roasted Garlic
Garlic, Canola/Rapeseed, Glycerin/Glycerol, Rice, Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Orville Movie Theater Butter Pop Up Bowl
Corn, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Clif Bar and Company — Chocolate Energy Gel, Chocolate
Corn, Cane Sugar, Cocoa, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Orange/strawberry Gels, 3.5 Oz, 14 Oz
Cane Sugar, Apple, Carrageenan, Citric Acid, Carob, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Cracked Pepper Homestyle Roast Pumpkin Seeds, Cracked Pepper Homestyle Roast
Pumpkin, Onion, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Citric Acid, Sunflower
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Old El Paso Thick 'n Chunky Mild Salsa
Tomato, Onion, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Coriander/Cilantro, Citric Acid, Lemon
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
ROSE'S STRAWBERRY SYRUP, 12 FL OZ
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Blue Raspberry Soft Candy Blue Raspberry Fat Free24x2 Oz
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Minute Maid Light Watermelon Blueberry Bottle, 59 Fl Oz
Apple, Peach, Blueberry, Watermelon, Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Aspartame, Grape
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Ocean Spray, Wave, Apple White Cranberry Juice Drink, Berry Medley with White Cranberries
Cane Sugar, Beet, Apple, Cranberry, Citric Acid, Carrot
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Coca-Cola USA Operations — FANTA, SODA, GRAPEFRUIT, GRAPEFRUIT
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Grapefruit, Glycerin/Glycerol, Carob
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The J.M. Smucker Company — CHOCOLATE
Corn, Fructose, Cocoa, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Coumarin/Vanillin
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods Company — Cherry Mixed Fruit in 100% Fruit Juice
Grape, Pineapple, Peach, Pear, Cherry, FD&C Red #3, Lemon, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Levant Mediterranean Snacks LLC — LEVANT, SPICY HUMMUS
Sesame, Sunflower, Chili Pepper, Capsaicin, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-van Camp — Lemon-lime Endurance Formula Thirst Quencher, Lemon-lime
Cane Sugar, Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — AU JUS GRAVY, AU JUS
Beef, Yeast (Baker's), Wheat, Onion, Soybean, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — V8 SPLASH BEVERAGE MANGO PEACH
Corn, Fructose, Carrot, Citric Acid, Mango, Peach
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hormel Foods Corporation — RESTAURANT STYLE SALSA
Tomato, Citric Acid, Chili Pepper, Capsaicin, Onion, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hormel Foods Corporation — HORMEL, PEPPERONI
Pork, Beef, Corn, Paprika, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Yoplait USA — LOW FAT YOGURT
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Corn, Whey, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-Van Camp — CRISP & COOL ARCTIC BLITZ THIRST QUENCHER, ARCTIC BLITZ
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, Blue #1, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — RESTAURANT STYLE SALSA, MEDIUM
Tomato, Citric Acid, Chili Pepper, Onion, Garlic, Coriander/Cilantro
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — CAFFEINE FREE PEACH SODA, PEACH
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Cedar's Mediterranean Foods, Inc. — MEDITERRANEAN ORIGINALS BABA GHANNOUJ ROASTED EGGPLANT DIP & SPREAD, BABA GHANNOUJ
Eggplant, Sesame, Sunflower, Lemon, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — FRUTZ SPARKLING WATER AND JUICE BEVERAGE, SPARKLING POMEGRANATE
Fructose, Apple, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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