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 212 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Monster Energy Company — Premium Juice Blend
Apple, Orange, Pineapple, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle Waters North America Inc. — Iced Tea
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Tea, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle USA Inc. — Whipped Cocoa Mix
Cane Sugar, Cow's Milk, Whey, Cocoa, Coconut, Soybean, Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Perdue Farms Incorporated — Grilled Chicken Breast Strips with Rib Meat & a Fajita Style Seasoning
Chicken, Rice, Garlic, Onion, Tomato, Yeast (Baker's), Lime, Corn, Citric Acid, Coriander/Cilantro
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Solero — Strawberry Colada
Cane Sugar, Strawberry, Pineapple, Coconut, Lemon, Carob, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Cranberry Juice Cocktail From Concentrate, Cranberry
Fructose, Corn, Cranberry, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Hunts Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes
Tomato, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Conagra Brands — All-in-one Sunflower Oil, 24/16 Oz
Corn, Sunflower, Citric Acid, Cow's Milk
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Old El Paso Whole Green Chiles Mild
Chili Pepper, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Pillsbury Pie Crusts 8 Count
Wheat, Pork, Rice, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Kids Soft Candy Kids Fat Freeeaster1x8 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 |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Kids Soft Candy Kids Fat Free24x5 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 |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Master Pour Cherry Syrup Bag in Box, 5 Gallons
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Diet Coke Cans, 10.5 Fl Oz, 8 Pack
Aspartame, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid, Caffeine
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Pizza Sauce
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Corn, Onion, Soybean, Carrot, Citric Acid, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Good Humor-breyers Ice Cream — Popsicle, Ice Pops, Sugar Free, Orange, Cherry, Grape, Low Calorie, Naturally and Artificially Flavored
Glycerin/Glycerol, Corn, Citric Acid, Aspartame, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #6, Cherry, Beet, Grape, FD&C Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Cape Cod Potato Chips Inc. — Cape Cod, Kettle Cooked Potato Chips, Roasted Black Garlic
Potato, Canola/Rapeseed, Corn, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid, Yeast (Baker's), Grape
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Red Bull North America, Inc. — THE PEACH EDITION ENERGY DRINK, PEACH
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Caffeine, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Gatorade Fierce Grape Thirst Quencher (8 - 20 Fluid Ounce) 160 Fluid Ounce 8 Pack Plastic Bottles
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, Blue #1, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — V8 V-fusion Beverage Cherry Apple
Sweet Potato, Carrot, Apple, Grape, Cherry, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Mtn Dew Voltage Raspberry Citrus Flavor and Ginseng Soda 20 Fluid Ounce Plastic Bottle
Fructose, Corn, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid, Caffeine, Blue #1, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Nabisco Triscuit Crackers Cranberry 1x9.000 Oz
Wheat, Soybean, Cane Sugar, Sage, Garlic, Onion, Citric Acid, Cranberry, Yeast (Baker's)
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — 365 Everyday Value, Organic Low Fat Dessert Bars, Greek Yogurt, Blueberry
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Blueberry, Tapioca, Rice, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Cheesy Spread
American Cheese, Cow's Milk, Whey, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hormel Foods Corporation — Hormel, Di Lusso, Genoa Salami
Pork, Beef, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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