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 189 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — San Marzano Style Crushed Tomatoes with Tomato Puree
Tomato, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Mars, Inc. — ALL LIME BITE SIZE CANDIES, ALL LIME
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Tapioca, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — DEEP DISH PASTRY PIE SHELLS, DEEP DISH
Wheat, Pork, Citric Acid, Cane Sugar, Whey, Sodium Metabisulfite
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-van Camp — Icy Charge Thirst Quencher, Icy Charge
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, Blue #1, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Betty Crocker Whipped Whip Cream Frosting
Cane Sugar, Corn, Polysorbate 80, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Hubert's Blackberry Lemonade Glass Bottle, 40 Fl Oz
Lemon, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Flavored Juice Drink From Concentrate
Grape, Cane Sugar, Cranberry, Strawberry, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hormel Foods Corporation — Hormel, Pepperoni Diced
Pork, Beef, Corn, Paprika, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Welch's — Giant Freeze Pops
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Minute Maid Company — Mango Tropical Drops
Apple, Mango, Citric Acid, Pineapple, Turmeric, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Bartlett Pear Chunks in Extra Light Syrup
Pear, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Tribe Mediterranean Foods, Inc. — Mediterranean Style Hummus, Mediterranean Style
Sesame, Canola/Rapeseed, Garlic, Citric Acid, Olive, Paprika, Parsley
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Lipton, Liquid Iced Black Tea Mix, Summer Peach Flavor with Other Natural Flavor, Summer Peach Flavor with Other Natural Flavor
Tea, Glycerin/Glycerol, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Sodium Metabisulfite, Carrot, Peach
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods, Llc — Berries 'n Kale Strawberry, Banana, Blueberry and Kale Fruit & Veggie Blends, Berries 'n Kale
Strawberry, Banana, Blueberry, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Chocolate Ice Cream, Chocolate
Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Cocoa, Citric Acid, Vanilla, Coumarin/Vanillin
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Sriracha Hot Sauce, Sriracha
Chili Pepper, Citric Acid, Cane Sugar, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Bj's Wholesale Club / Corporate Brands — Cranberry Black Cherry Flavored Juice Cocktail Blend From Concentrate, Cranberry Black Cherry
Cane Sugar, Grape, Cranberry, Cherry, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico, Inc. — Caffeine Free Lemon Lime Sparkling Flavored Soda with a Splash of Real Juice, Lemon Lime
Fructose, Corn, Lemon, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle Waters North America Inc. — Nestea, Iced Tea, Lemon, Lemon
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Tea, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Hunts Tomato Sauce, 90 Oz
Tomato, Citric Acid, Onion, Garlic, Chili Pepper
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-Van Camp — PASSION FRUIT THIRST QUENCHER, PASSION FRUIT
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Kids Soft Candy Kids Fat Freevalentines Day1x8 Oz
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Mtn Dew Soda (8 - 12 Fl Oz) 96 Fluid Ounce Plastic Bottles
Fructose, Corn, Orange, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Lifewater Pacific Coconut Water 20 Fluid Ounce Plastic Bottle
Cane Sugar, Coconut, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dairylea Processed Cheese-spread Regular 145 Gr
Cow's Milk, Whey, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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