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 202 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Mello Yello Bottle, 16 Fl Oz
Corn, Fructose, Orange, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, FD&C Yellow #5, Carob
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — LEMONADE
Fructose, Corn, Lemon, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Del Monte, Pasta Sauce, Green Pepper & Mushroom
Tomato, Fructose, Corn, Solanine, Mushroom, Soybean, Onion, Carrot, Citric Acid, Garlic, Yeast (Baker's)
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hormel Foods Corporation — Salsa Verde
Citric Acid, Solanine, Chili Pepper, Capsaicin, Onion, Garlic, Fructose, Corn, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Terrafina Llc — Gummy Bears
Corn, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, Blue #1, FD&C Red #40, Coconut
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle USA Inc. — ALMOND MILK CREAMER, ALMOND
Almond, Cane Sugar, Coconut, Green Pea, Citric Acid, Sunflower
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Cran-raspberry Sparkling Cranberry Raspberry Flavored Juice Beverage Blended with Another Juice From Concentrate, Cran-raspberry
Grape, Cane Sugar, Beet, Cranberry, Raspberry, Citric Acid, Carrot
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Lipton, Liquid Iced Black Tea Mix, Tropical Mango Flavor with Other Natural Flavor, Tropical Mango Flavor with Other Natural Flavor
Tea, Glycerin/Glycerol, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Sodium Metabisulfite, Carrot, Apple
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez International, Inc. — COLA BUBBLES SOFT & CHEWY CANDY, COLA
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Progresso Organic Southwest Style Black Bean Soup
Tomato, Corn, Onion, Cumin, Garlic, Chili Pepper, Citric Acid, Black Pepper
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
BLO GUM POPS
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Cranberry Apple Juice Drink From Concentrate
Cane Sugar, Cranberry, Apple, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Soda
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Apple
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars Chocolate North America Llc — Fruit Chews
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, Tapioca, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Allens, Jalapeno Pepper Peas
Green Pea, Chili Pepper, Capsaicin, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Onion
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Market Pantry — Sour Cherry Bites Chewy Candy
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Market Pantry — Maraschino Cherries Without Stems
Cherry, Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Yoplait USA — Fruplait Yogurt
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Strawberry, Corn, Carrageenan, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle USA Inc. — Hot Diced Jalapenos, Hot
Chili Pepper, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Stewed Roma Style Tomatoes with Natural Sea Salt
Tomato, Fructose, Corn, Onion, Celery, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-van Camp — Orange Zero Sugar Thirst Quencher, Orange
Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #6
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Fresh Mozzarella Farmstead Cheese, Fresh Mozzarella
Cow's Milk, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Nestle USA Inc. — Strawberry Flavor Milk Powder, Strawberry
Cane Sugar, Beet, Carrageenan, Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kellogg Company Us — Kellogg Fruit Pieces Non-licensed Mixed Berry 5.5oz
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Lime Fruit Bars
Lime, Cane Sugar, Carob, Carrageenan, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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