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 210 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Barq's Red Creme Soda Bottle, 16 Fl Oz
Corn, Fructose, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Philadelphia Cream Cheese-soft Plain Lightest 180.000 Gr
Cow's Milk, Carrageenan, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Swedish Fish Soft Candy Berry Fat Free8x8 Oz
Cane Sugar, Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Sunflower, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hormel Foods Corporation — Enchilada Sauce
Tomato, Citric Acid, Chili Pepper, Garlic, Corn, MSG, Onion, Soybean, Cane Sugar, Yeast (Baker's)
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — CITRUS BLAST, CITRUS SODA
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — PULL'N'PEEL CANDY, CINNAMON FIRE
Corn, Wheat, Cane Sugar, Glycerin/Glycerol, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — MYSTERY JAMMERS FLAVORED DRINK, MYSTERY JAMMERS
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Orange, Pineapple, Strawberry
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nature's Path — Organic Toaster Pastrie's
Wheat, Cane Sugar, Apple, Corn, Rice, Cinnamon, Honey, Tapioca, Citric Acid, Vanilla
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — LIME PEPSI WITH A SPLASH OF LIME JUICE, LIME
Corn, Fructose, Cane Sugar, Caffeine, Citric Acid, Lime
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Kellogg Company — ASSORTED FRUIT FLAVORED FRUITY SNACKS, ASSORTED FRUIT
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Gatorade Prime Sports Fuel Drink Fruit Punch 4 Fluid Ounce Plastic Bag
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Hunts Petite Diced Tomatoes, 14.5 Oz
Tomato, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — ROASTED GARLIC & HERB PASTA SAUCE, ROASTED GARLIC & HERB
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Soybean, Garlic, Onion, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez International, Inc. — SOUR BERRY TWIST VIBES SUGAR FREE GUM, SOUR BERRY TWIST
Citric Acid, Aspartame, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
SOLERO — CRUSHED FRUIT BARS
Strawberry, Cane Sugar, Lemon, Citric Acid, Carob, Beet
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
GOOD & GATHER — TUSCAN SOUP STARTER CHICKEN BROTH, TUSCAN
Chicken, Tomato, Cane Sugar, Onion, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — GREEK NONFAT YOGURT, PEACH
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Peach, Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The J.M. Smucker Company — PILLSBURY, WHITE CAKE & CUPCAKE MIX
Wheat, Cane Sugar, Canola/Rapeseed, Corn, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Coca-Cola USA Operations — POWERADE, SPORTS DRINK, CITRUS PASSIONFRUIT, CITRUS PASSIONFRUIT
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Trader Joe's — Juice
Apple, Orange, Pineapple, Grape, Peach, Mango, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Light Greek Nonfat Yogurt
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Whey, Strawberry, Fructose, Corn, Carrageenan, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Diced Peaches Gel
Peach, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Corn
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle Waters North America Inc./poland Spring — Poland Spring, Nature's Blend Spring Water & Real Juice, Grape
Cane Sugar, Grape, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Yoplait USA — Fat Free Yogurt
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Strawberry, Corn, Cane Sugar, Banana, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Marsh Supermarkets, Llc — 100% Vegetable Juice
Tomato, Carrot, Celery, Beet, Parsley, Lettuce, Spinach, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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