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 206 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
PEPSICO, INC — LEMON ICED TEA, LEMON
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Tea, Benzoic Acid, Lemon
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Minute Maid Company — STRAWBERRY BANANA FLAVORED CONCENTRATED SMOOTHIE MIX, STRAWBERRY BANANA
Corn, Fructose, Strawberry, Banana, Apple, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-Van Camp — GREEN APPLE THIRST QUENCHER
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Mccormick, Grill Mates, Mesquite Seasoning
Chili Pepper, Garlic, Onion, Cane Sugar, Paprika, Sunflower, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Ocean Spray, Wave, Juice Drink, Apple with White Cranberries
Apple, Beet, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Cranberry
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Minute Maid Company — Apple and Lemon Juice Concentrates
Apple, Citric Acid, Lemon, Turmeric, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Barilla America, Inc. — Roasted Garlic Sauce, Roasted Garlic
Tomato, Garlic, Cane Sugar, Onion, Olive, Parsley, Citric Acid, Oregano
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Sliced Cling Peaches
Peach, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Bj's Wholesale Club / Corporate Brands — Garlic & Jalapeno Stuffed Olives, Garlic & Jalapeno
Olive, Garlic, Chili Pepper, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Betty Crocker Frozen Fruit Snacks 10 Count
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, Sunflower
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Ocean Spray, Cranberry Lime Juice Drink
Cranberry, Cane Sugar, Beet, Lime, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle Waters North America Inc. — Tradewinds, Jimmy Buffett's Island Iced Tea, Strawberry Lime Black Tea, Strawberry Lime Black Tea
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Tea
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Thick N Chunky Salsa - Plastic Jug, 1 Gal
Tomato, Chili Pepper, Onion, Citric Acid, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Act Ii Light Butter, 8.25 Oz
Corn, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Annie's Organic Green Goddess Dressing
Canola/Rapeseed, Apple, Soybean, Cow's Milk, Whey, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Egg White, Egg Yolk, Onion, Lemon, Citric Acid, Mustard, Black Pepper, Parsley
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Us (0044710044602) — Capri Sun Ready To Drink Soft Drink Wild Cherry
Cane Sugar, Pear, Cherry, Citric Acid, Grape, Apple
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Kids Soft Candy Kids Fat Free60x3.5 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 12 Fluid Ounce Aluminum Can-ia
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Diced Mangos
Mango, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Southwest Seasoning
Chili Pepper, Onion, Garlic, Tomato, Cane Sugar, Paprika, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle Waters North America Inc. — Jimmy Buffett's Island Tea
Cane Sugar, Apple, Pear, Orange, Citric Acid, Tea
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Califia Farms, Lp — Real Almond & Coconut Cream
Almond, Cane Sugar, Coconut, Sunflower, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — V8 Beverage Vegetable with Lime
Tomato, Carrot, Celery, Beet, Parsley, Lettuce, Spinach, Lime, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Pepsi Cola 16 Fluid Ounce Aluminum Can
Fructose, Corn, Cane Sugar, Caffeine, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Mountain Dew Code Red Cherry Soda 20 Fluid Ounce Plastic Bottle
Fructose, Corn, Orange, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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