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 191 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Swedish Fish Soft Candy Red Easter1x1 Oz
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Lipton Iced Tea Lemonade Half and Half (12 - 16.9 Fl Oz) 202.8 Fluid Ounce 12 Pack Plastic Bottles
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Lemon, Tea, Glycerin/Glycerol
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Minute Maid Watermelon Punch Can, 12 Fl Oz
Fructose, Corn, Pear, Apple, Watermelon, Citric Acid, Cane Sugar, Glycerin/Glycerol, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Triscuit Crackers Fire Roasted Tomato & Olive Oil 1x8.5 Oz
Wheat, Canola/Rapeseed, Rice, Tomato, Onion, Garlic, Paprika, Citric Acid, Malt, Barley, Olive
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Wholesome — Gummy Worms
Tapioca, Cane Sugar, Grape, Citric Acid, Carrot, Turmeric, Sunflower
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nature's Path Organic — Organic Toaster Pastries
Wheat, Cane Sugar, Apple, Corn, Strawberry, Rice, Tapioca, Honey, Citric Acid, Beet, Paprika, Vanilla
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hormel Foods Corporation — Pepperoni Minis
Pork, Beef, Paprika, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods Company — Mandarins in Gel
Orange, Cane Sugar, Carrageenan, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #6
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Roma Style Tomato Paste with Italian Herbs
Tomato, Onion, Soybean, Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Premium Stewed Tomatoes
Tomato, Fructose, Corn, Onion, Celery, Chili Pepper, Citric Acid, Garlic, Basil, Oregano
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Tropicana Twister Orange Strawberry Banana Burst Juice Beverage 96 Fluid Ounce Plastic Bottle
Fructose, Corn, Orange, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Lipton, Decaffeinated Superfruit Green Tea, Blackberry Pomegranate Flavor with Other Natural Flavor, Blackberry Pomegranate Flavor with Other Natural Flavor
Tea, Citric Acid, Corn, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — BLUEBERRY FLAVORED DRY ROASTED ALMONDS & PISTACHIOS WITH PUMPKIN SEEDS & BLUEBERRIES NUT CLUSTERS, BLUEBERRY
Almond, Pistachio, Pumpkin, Blueberry, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The J.m. Smucker Company — Martha White 7 Ounce Gluten Free Blueberry Muffin
Rice, Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Blue #2, FD&C Red #40, Potato, Canola/Rapeseed, Tapioca
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Royal Prince, Sauced Yam Cuts Sweet Potatoes, Orange Pineapple
Sweet Potato, Cane Sugar, Corn, Pineapple, Orange, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Original Greek Nonfat Yogurt
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Strawberry, Fructose, Carrot, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — CAPRI SUN, JUICE DRINK BLEND, BERRY MELON, BERRY MELON
Cane Sugar, Pear, Grape, Citric Acid, Strawberry, Orange
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Ocean Spray, Cran-pomegranate, Juice Drink, Cranberry Pomegranate
Cane Sugar, Beet, Grape, Cranberry, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hormel Foods Corporation — Tuscan Brand Salami
Pork, Corn, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Clif Bar and Company — Athlete Series Energy Chews
Tapioca, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Mint/Menthol, Sunflower
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
R. C. Bigelow, Inc. — Home Blend Iced Green Tea
Cane Sugar, Tea, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Minute Maid Company — Hi-c, Ecto Cooler, Ghostbusters Drink, Citrus
Fructose, Corn, Orange, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market — Dolmas, Divina
Rice, Soybean, Onion, Dill, Citric Acid, Mint/Menthol, Black Pepper
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Q — Spectacular Tonic Water
Vanilla, Coumarin/Vanillin, Lemon, Lime, Orange, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Coriander/Cilantro, Citric Acid, Caffeine, Fructose
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Red Bull North America, Inc. — Blueberry Flavored Blue Edition Energy Drink, Blueberry
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Caffeine, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
Search Any Product
Check any grocery product against the full MRT 176 panel — not just Citric Acid.
Open the Food Checker