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 201 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Conagra Foods-Snack Foods Group — PREMIUM SMOKED STICKS PORK SAUSAGE, SPICY CHILI & GARLIC
Pork, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Chili Pepper, Celery, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — HALF&HALF ICED TEA LEMONADE LIQUID WATER ENHANCER, HALF&HALF ICED TEA LEMONADE
Citric Acid, Tea, Caffeine, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Lay's Limon Flavored Potato Chips 1.125 Ounce Plastic Bag
Potato, Sunflower, Corn, Canola/Rapeseed, Citric Acid, Cane Sugar
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Lemon Hummus, Lemon
Sesame, Canola/Rapeseed, Lemon, Citric Acid, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Bj's Wholesale Club / Corporate Brands — Cream Cheese Spread, Cream Cheese
Cow's Milk, Citric Acid, Carob
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — ANGEL FOOD CAKE MIX, ANGEL FOOD
Cane Sugar, Wheat, Egg White, Corn, Citric Acid, Coumarin/Vanillin
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Odoms Tennessee Pride Sausage Links, 9 Oz
Pork, MSG, Citric Acid, Cane Sugar
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-van Camp — Thirst Quencher Drink, Glacier Cherry
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
PEPSICO, INC — PINK LEMONADE JUICE DRINK, PINK LEMONADE
Cane Sugar, Lemon, Citric Acid, Corn, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-Van Camp — ORANGE + TROPICAL FRUIT BOLD & INTENSE THIRST QUENCHER
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40, Glycerin/Glycerol
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Diet Coke Glass Bottle, 12 Fl Oz
Aspartame, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid, Caffeine
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nature's Path Foods Inc. — Nature's Path, Flax Plus, Organic Waffles, Red Berry
Wheat, Soybean, Lecithin (Soy), Cane Sugar, Raspberry, Strawberry, Cherry, Apple, Rice, Citric Acid, Corn, Pear, Grape, Oat
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Monster Energy Company — Diet Hansen's, Diet Premium Soda, Cherry Vanilla Creme
Citric Acid, Vanilla, Coumarin/Vanillin, Cherry
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Cia. Topo Chico, S.a. — Tope Sabores, Orange Soda, Orange
Cane Sugar, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40, Glycerin/Glycerol
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hormel Foods Corporation — Taco Meats
Chicken, Onion, Garlic, Paprika, Carrageenan, Chili Pepper, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Cape Cod Potato Chips Inc. — Sea Salt & Vinegar Kettle Cooked Potato Chips, Sea Salt & Vinegar
Potato, Canola/Rapeseed, Safflower, Sunflower, Corn, Citric Acid, Cane Sugar, Apple
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Starbucks Coffee Company — Cocoa & Cacao Nib Premium Cookies, Cocoa & Cacao Nib
Wheat, Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Cocoa, Egg White, Egg Yolk, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — Plum Stage2 Grain Baby Food Zucchini Banana Amarnth
Banana, Citric Acid, Zucchini, Amaranth, Lemon
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Dannon, Light & Fit, Nonfat Yogurt, Salted Caramel, Salted Caramel
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Beef, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Minute Maid Company — Orangeade
Fructose, Corn, Orange, Citric Acid, Turmeric
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico, Inc — Lemon Lime Zero Sugar Soda, Lemon Lime
Citric Acid, Aspartame, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Annie's Organic Brown Sugar Cinnamon Toaster Pastries with Frosting 6 Count
Wheat, Tapioca, Cane Sugar, Honey, Apple, Cow's Milk, Cinnamon, Green Pea, Rice, Whey, Citric Acid, Sunflower
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Extreme Soft Candy Extreme Fat Free24x1.8 Oz
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Fresca Can, 12 Fl Oz
Citric Acid, Grapefruit, Aspartame, Glycerin/Glycerol, Benzoic Acid, Carob
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Nabisco Triscuit Crackers Wasabi 1x7.6 Oz
Rice, Wheat, Soybean, Canola/Rapeseed, Cane Sugar, Barley, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid, Parsley, Mustard
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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