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 200 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Campbell Soup Company — Prego Sauces Vegetable
Tomato, Sweet Potato, Carrot, Canola/Rapeseed, Garlic, Onion, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Pepsi Zero Sugar Cola 2 Liter Plastic Bottle
Aspartame, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Blue Sky Organic Ginger Ale Can, 12 Fl Oz
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Citrus Salad
Grapefruit, Orange, Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Probiotic Yogurt
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Peach, Carrageenan, Citric Acid, Carrot
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-Van Camp — ARCTIC BLITZ THIRST QUENCHER, ARCTIC BLITZ
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, Blue #1, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Fanta Orange Soda Can, 7.5 Fl Oz
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hormel Foods Corporation — Chi-chi's, Diced Green Chilies
Chili Pepper, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Mccormick, 3 in 1 Greek Dressing, Dip & Recipe Mix
Basil, Rosemary, Oregano, Garlic, Solanine, Cane Sugar, Tomato, Citric Acid, Onion, Corn, Lemon, Olive
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Bj's Wholesale Club / Corporate Brands — Wellsley Farms, Sparkling Water Beverage
Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Bj's Wholesale Club / Corporate Brands — Imported Petite Pepperoncini
Chili Pepper, Capsaicin, Solanine, Citric Acid, Turmeric, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Lipton, Tea & Honey, Iced Green Tea Mix, Blackberry Pomegranate Flavor with Other Natural Flavor, Blackberry Pomegranate Flavor with Other Natural Flavor
Cane Sugar, Honey, Citric Acid, Tea, Corn, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — TOMATO PLANT-BASED PESTO, TOMATO
Tomato, Citric Acid, Sunflower, Basil, Cashew, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Diet Tea, Cranberry
Cranberry, Tea, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hormel Foods Corporation — Original Tortilla Chips Strips, Original
Corn, Lime, Sunflower, Soybean, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Hunts Diced Tomatoes Petite Variety, 13 Oz
Tomato, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Conagra Brands — Angela Mia No Salt Added Spaghetti Sauce, #10 Can, 6/104 Oz., 104 Oz
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Corn, Onion, Olive, Citric Acid, Basil, Oregano, Parsley
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Banquet Brown N Serve Original Links, 48 Oz
Pork, Turkey, Soybean, Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Yoplait Grk 100 Prtn Ff Ygrt Cinn Swirl
Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Cinnamon, Yogurt
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Swedish Fish Soft Candy Bulk Fat Free6x5.000 Lb
Cane Sugar, Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Allens, Tomatoes & Okra
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Onion, Garlic, Citric Acid, Black Pepper
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods Company — Diced Pears in 100% Fruit Juice
Pear, Grape, Lemon, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — THICK & CREAMY RANCH, DIP, DRESSING & RECIPE MIX
Corn, MSG, Garlic, Onion, Parsley, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — ISLAND PINEAPPLE GELATIN SNACKS, ISLAND PINEAPPLE
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Blue #1, Beef, Pork
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — PULL 'N' PEEL CANDY, CHERRY
Corn, Wheat, Cane Sugar, Glycerin/Glycerol, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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