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 188 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Mccormick, Grill Mates, Marinade, Garlic, Herb & Wine
Corn, Chili Pepper, Thyme, Onion, Garlic, Grape, Whey, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Clif Bar and Company — Clif, Bloks, Energy Chews, Orange
Tapioca, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Tea, Caffeine, Sunflower
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Danone, Dairy Drink, Peach Durazno
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Fructose, Peach, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Del Monte, Mixed Fruit in Fruit Juice
Peach, Pear, Pineapple, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hawaii Associated Wholesale — Huli Huli Sauce
Cane Sugar, Wheat, Soybean, Benzoic Acid, Ginger, Polysorbate 80, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Heinz Frozen Food Company — Country Style French Fries
Potato, Sunflower, Canola/Rapeseed, Soybean, Olive, Black Pepper, Corn, Citric Acid, Garlic, Onion, Cane Sugar
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Oscar Mayer Foods Corp. — Deli-style Sandwich Slices
Cucumber, Garlic, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Mustard, Chili Pepper, Polysorbate 80
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Bj's Wholesale Club / Corporate Brands — Iced Tea
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Tea, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
P. K. Kinder Co., Inc. — Organic BBQ Ranch Dressing
Soybean, Canola/Rapeseed, Cane Sugar, Tomato, Egg Yolk, Cow's Milk, Corn, Garlic, Onion, Lemon, Citric Acid, Sunflower
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ski — Authentic Citrus Soda
Fructose, Corn, Lemon, Orange, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods, Llc — Shine Pears in Pomegranate Blueberry Juice Blend, Pears in Pomegranate Blueberry
Pear, Grape, Cane Sugar, Raspberry, Blueberry, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hormel Foods Corporation — Pepperoni Snack Stix
Pork, Beef, Paprika, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Sweet Heat Legendary Bar-b-q Sauce, Sweet Heat
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Apple, Chili Pepper, Citric Acid, Corn, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kellogg Company Us — Kellogg's Fruit Pieces Non Licensed Batman Vs Superman .8oz
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mott's Llp — Sweet & Spicy Clamato Plus Mango & Chile Tomato Cocktail From Concentrate, Sweet & Spicy
Fructose, Corn, Tomato, Solanine, MSG, Citric Acid, Mango, Onion, Chili Pepper, Capsaicin, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — V8 Splash Beverage Raspberry Lemon
Fructose, Corn, Sweet Potato, Citric Acid, Lemon, Raspberry, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Old El Paso Chili Seasoning Mix
Chili Pepper, Corn, Paprika, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Canola/Rapeseed, Soybean, Sunflower, Onion, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Swedish Fish Assorted Soft Candy Mini Bulk Fat Free6x5.000 Lb
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Fuze Meyer Lemon Tea-ko Bottle, 16.9 Fl Oz
Tea, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Philadelphia Cream Cheese Chive Light 270 Gr
Cow's Milk, Carrageenan, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Fuze Iced Tea Watermelon Bottle, 1 Liter
Tea, Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods Company — Tropical Fruit in 100% Fruit Juice
Grape, Papaya, Pineapple, Lemon, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Mccormick, Culinary, Lemon 'n Herb Seasoning
Citric Acid, Onion, Cane Sugar, Oregano, Basil, Grape, FD&C Yellow #5, Lemon
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Blue Bell Creameries, Inc. — Blue Bell, Ice Cream, Strawberries & Homemade Vanilla
Cow's Milk, Strawberry, Cane Sugar, Fructose, Corn, Carob, Carrageenan, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-Van Camp — GRAPE FLAVORED BOLD & INTENSE THIRST QUENCHER, GRAPE
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, Blue #1, Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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