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 196 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Annie's Organic BBQ Cheddar Squares Baked Snack Crackers
Wheat, Sunflower, Cow's Milk, Chili Pepper, Cane Sugar, Tomato, Yeast (Baker's), Paprika, Onion, Tapioca, Garlic, Citric Acid, Black Pepper, Celery
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Diet Coke Cans, 7.5 Fl Oz, 8 Pack
Aspartame, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid, Caffeine
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Diet Coke Bottle, 2 Liters
Aspartame, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid, Caffeine
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Swedish Fish Assorted Soft Candy Bulk Fat Free6x5 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 |
|
Campbell Soup Company — Plum Mighty 4 Tots Snacks
Strawberry, Banana, Citric Acid, Yogurt, Cow's Milk, Amaranth, Oat, Lemon
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Unilever Bestfoods France — Traditional Dijon Mustard
Mustard, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Asmar's Mediterranean Foods Inc. — Hommus
Sesame, Lemon, Garlic, Citric Acid, Olive
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Minute Maid Company — Bright & Early, Drink, Apple
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — David Seeds Black Pepper
Sunflower, Soybean, Cane Sugar, Onion, Black Pepper, Yeast (Baker's), Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Yoplait USA — Original Low Fat Yogurt, Passion Fruit
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Hatch Green Chile Smoked Shorty Sausages, Hatch Green Chile
Pork, Chili Pepper, Cane Sugar, Yeast (Baker's), Garlic, Celery, Citric Acid, Beef
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Slim Jim Original Beef Jerky, 2.9 Oz
Beef, Cane Sugar, Soybean, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Fanta Grape Soda Cans, 7.5 Fl Oz, 6 Pack
Fructose, Corn, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Coca-Cola USA Operations — FANTA, SODA, PEACH, PEACH
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Monster Energy Company — Cane Soda
Cane Sugar, Salicylic Acid, Vanilla, Coumarin/Vanillin, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills, Inc. — BETTY CROCKER, HERSHEY'S, PREMIUM FROSTING, CHOCOLATE CARAMEL, CHOCOLATE CARAMEL
Cane Sugar, Corn, Fructose, Cocoa, Canola/Rapeseed, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Newman's Own, Inc. — Newman's Own, Vinaigrette
Grape, Olive, Cane Sugar, Onion, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Sara Lee Foods — Premium Pork Sausage Chorizo
Pork, Chili Pepper, Paprika, Citric Acid, Cane Sugar, Corn
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Victoria Amory & Co. Llc — Victoria Amory, Smokey BBQ Ketchup
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Grape, Olive, Paprika, Onion, Citric Acid, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Kellogg Company — Princess, Assorted Fruit Flavored Snacks
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Bj's Wholesale Club / Corporate Brands — Petite Pepperoncini
Chili Pepper, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Metabisulfite, Turmeric
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Original Flavor Mashed Potatoes, Original
Potato, Sodium Metabisulfite, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Hunts Diced Basil Grarlic Oregano Tomatoes Variety, 13 Oz
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Basil, Oregano, Parsley, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Diet Coke Can, 12 Fl Oz
Aspartame, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid, Caffeine
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
ORGANIC FOUR FRUIT PREMIUM SPREAD
Strawberry, Cherry, Raspberry, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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