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 211 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Hormel Foods Corporation — Snackers Mild Salsa
Tomato, Citric Acid, Onion, Chili Pepper, Corn, Garlic, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods, Llc — No Sugar Added Cherry Mixed Fruit in Water Sweetened with Stevia & Monk Fruit Extracts
Pineapple, Peach, Pear, Cherry, FD&C Red #3, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Esti — Authentic Greek Lemon Hummus, Lemon
Sesame, Sunflower, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Lemon, Black Pepper, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Crave-worthy Key Lime Flavor Pie Not-so-traditional Blended Greek Yogurt, Crave-worthy Key Lime Pie
Yogurt, Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Lime, Citric Acid, Turmeric
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Kellogg Company — Fruit Flavored Snacks, Assorted
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kellogg Company Us — Kellogg's Fruit Pieces Disney Disney Cars .8oz
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Yoplait USA — Light Fat Free Yogurt, Chai Latte
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Corn, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Cinnamon
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — STRAWBERRY FRUITY CHEWS SUGARFREE GUM, STRAWBERRY
Glycerin/Glycerol, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Aspartame, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Betty Crocker Whipped Butter Cream Frosting
Cane Sugar, Corn, Malt, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, Polysorbate 80, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Progresso Vegetable Classics Tomato and Roasted Red Pepper Soup
Tomato, Solanine, Corn, Cane Sugar, Soybean, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-Van Camp — ARCTIC BLITZ CRISP & COOL FROST THIRST QUENCHER, ARCTIC BLITZ
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, Blue #1, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Izze Sparkling Clementine Juice Beverage 16 Fluid Ounce Bottle
Apple, Grape, Orange, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Barqs French Vanilla Cream Soda Bottle, 20 Fl Oz
Fructose, Corn, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Barqs French Vanilla Cream Soda Bottle, 2 Liters
Fructose, Corn, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Value Pack Dairy Drink
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Fructose, Strawberry, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — MYSTERY JAMMERS FLAVORED DRINK
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Orange, Pineapple, Strawberry
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle USA Inc. — Peanut Butter Crisp Bar
Soybean, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Diced Peaches Yellow Cling Peaches in Peach Flavored Gel, Peach
Peach, Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kellogg Company Us — Kellogg's Other Licensed Fruit Pieces Monopoly 8oz
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Fanta Pineapple Soda Cans, 7.5 Fl Oz, 6 Pack
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Coconut, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Honest Tea Green Dragon Glass Bottle, 16 Fl Oz
Tea, Cane Sugar, Lemon, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Mccormick, Grill Mates, Brown Sugar Bourbon Seasoning
Cane Sugar, Chili Pepper, Garlic, Onion, Citric Acid, Paprika
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Stubb's, Bar-b-q Baste Moppin' Sauce
Soybean, Lecithin (Soy), Paprika, Corn, Garlic, Cane Sugar, Tapioca, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Organic Caribbean Black Bean Soup
Tomato, Citric Acid, Corn, Rice, Onion, Potato, Pineapple, Chili Pepper, Ginger, Garlic, Coriander/Cilantro, Lime, Paprika, Thyme, Black Pepper
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Bj's Wholesale Club / Corporate Brands — Croutons
Wheat, Canola/Rapeseed, Sunflower, Garlic, Yeast (Baker's), Cow's Milk, Malt, Barley, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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