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 204 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Organic Caribbean Black Bean Soup, Caribbean Black Bean
Tomato, Citric Acid, Corn, Rice, Onion, Potato, Pineapple, Chili Pepper, Ginger, Garlic, Coriander/Cilantro, Lime, Paprika, Thyme, Black Pepper
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Annie's Mac and Trees Macaroni and Cheese, Made with Organic Pasta
Wheat, Whey, Cow's Milk, Corn, Citric Acid, Sunflower
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
MINUTE MAID JTG CRANBERRY APPLE RASPBERRY BOTTLE, 12 FL OZ
Fructose, Corn, Apple, Cranberry, Raspberry, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Diet Pepsi Cola (8 - 12 Fluid Ounce) 96 Fluid Ounce 8 Pack Plastic Bottles
Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Mountain Dew Code Red Soda 12 Fluid Ounce Aluminum Can
Fructose, Corn, Orange, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Bubblicious Gum Strawberry 1x5 Pc
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Red #40, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Variegate Red Berry 1x19.000 Lb
Cane Sugar, Corn, Soybean, Citric Acid, Coconut, FD&C Red #40, Lecithin (Soy)
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — JUICE COCKTAIL, APPLE RASPBERRY
Apple, Raspberry, Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Baycliff Company, Inc. — Sushi Chef, Pickled Ginger
Ginger, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #3
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Ready-cut Diced Tomatoes
Tomato, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Triple Zero Blended Greek Nonfat Yogurt
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle USA Inc. — Original Taco Seasoning Mix
Corn, Paprika, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Citric Acid, Yeast (Baker's)
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Greek Nonfat Yogurt Blends
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Fructose, Corn, Cocoa, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Marinara Sauce
Tomato, Onion, Olive, Garlic, Carrot, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Kellogg Company — DAZZLE BERRY BLUE RASPBERRY & TROPICAL FRUIT FLAVORED UNICORN FRUITY SNACKS, DAZZLE BERRY
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Minute Maid — 100% Juice Blend
Apple, Pear, Grape, Pineapple, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Sweet Curry Spice Toasted Coconut Chips, Sweet Curry Spice
Coconut, Cane Sugar, Chili Pepper, Citric Acid, Black Pepper, Coriander/Cilantro, Cinnamon, Nutmeg
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods Company — Mango Chunks in 100% Fruit Juice
Mango, Grape, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — WILD BERRIES & MORITA CHILE FLAVORED FRUIT SPREAD, WILD BERRIES & MORITA CHILE
Cane Sugar, Raspberry, Blueberry, Chili Pepper, Capsaicin, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Red Bull North America, Inc. — Tropical Flavored Energy Drink, Tropical
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Caffeine, Glycerin/Glycerol
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Diet Pepsi Cola 20 Fluid Ounce Plastic Bottle
Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — COLA, CHERRY
Corn, Fructose, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Victoria Fine Foods Llc — Victoria, Vodka Sauce
Tomato, Onion, Olive, Cow's Milk, Whey, Garlic, Basil, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — CAFFEINE FREE FRUIT PUNCH SODA, FRUIT PUNCH
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Sparkling Citrus Tangerine
Grape, Grapefruit, Apple, Orange, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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