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 198 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Swedish Fish Soft Candy Berry Fat Free20x16 Oz
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Kids Soft Candy Kids Fat Free1x14 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 — Sierra Mist Lemon Lime Caffeine Free Soda 8 Fluid Ounce Can-ia
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction / Testing Required |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Nabisco Triscuit Crackers Pumpkin Spice Autumn1x9.000 Oz
Wheat, Soybean, Canola/Rapeseed, Cane Sugar, Pumpkin, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — V8 Beverage Orange Carrot
Carrot, Sweet Potato, Orange, Grape, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Tomato Paste with Roasted Garlic
Tomato, Soybean, Garlic, Olive, Citric Acid, Cane Sugar
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Victoria Fine Foods Llc — Roasted Red Peppers
Chili Pepper, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Mild Thick & Chunky Cantina Style Salsa
Tomato, Onion, Chili Pepper, Coriander/Cilantro, Cumin, Citric Acid, Lime, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Swedish Fish Soft Candy Variety Festive1x1 Oz
Cane Sugar, Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hormel Foods Corporation — Chi-chi's, Thick & Chunky Salsa, Hot
Tomato, Onion, Chili Pepper, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Del Monte, Nectar, Peach
Cane Sugar, Peach, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Fruit Drink
Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Yellow #6
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Cherry Chocolate Greek Nonfat Yogurt
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Fructose, Corn, Cocoa, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle Waters North America Inc. — Tradewinds, Jimmy Buffett's Island Green Tea, Tropical Citrus
Cane Sugar, Apple, Pear, Citric Acid, Orange, Tea
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Spiced Brandy & Herb Marinade, Spiced Brandy & Herb
Cane Sugar, Chili Pepper, Parsley, Ginger, Cinnamon, Onion, Garlic, Orange, Citric Acid, Corn, Malt, Grape
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Cranberry Diet Sparkling Juice Beverage From Concentrate, Cranberry
Cranberry, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Citrus Salad, Citrus
Grapefruit, Orange, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Red Bull North America, Inc. — Sugarfree Energy Drink
Citric Acid, Caffeine, Aspartame
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Garlic, Ginger, Sesame Crispy Fried Rice One Sheet Pan Seasoning Mix, Garlic, Ginger, Sesame
Garlic, Corn, Cane Sugar, Soybean, Wheat, Ginger, Citric Acid, Onion, Rice, Sesame
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle Waters North America Inc. — Tradewinds, Iced Tea, Raspberry, Raspberry
Tea, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Minute Maid Company — Zerosugar Lemonade
Lemon, Citric Acid, Corn, Glycerin/Glycerol, Benzoic Acid, Aspartame, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle USA Inc. — 100% Juice, Orange Tangerine
Apple, Pear, Grape, Orange, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Clif Bar and Company — Strawberry Energy Gel, Strawberry
Corn, Cane Sugar, Strawberry, Citric Acid, Tea, Caffeine
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Betty Crocker Whipped Vanilla Frosting
Cane Sugar, Fructose, Corn, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, Polysorbate 80, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Us (0044710044602) — Capri Sun Ready To Drink Soft Drink Strawberry Kiwi
Fructose, Corn, Apple, Strawberry, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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