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 214 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Public Displays of Confection — Tutti-frutti Candy
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods Company — Refreshing Greens Smoothie with a Hint of Mint
Apple, Banana, Cucumber, Spinach, Citric Acid, Mint/Menthol
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods Company — Smooth Apple - Cherry Sauce with Dices of Apple and Pieces of Dark Sweet Cherry
Apple, Cane Sugar, Cherry, Tapioca, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Cranberry Tangerine Juice Drink with Another Juice From Concentrate, Cranberry Tangerine
Cane Sugar, Cranberry, Grape, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Mixed Fruit Chunks + Mango Puree & Passion Fruit Juice Blend Peach & Pear Chunks in a Blend of Mango Puree & 100% Passion Fruit Juice, Mixed Fruit Chunks + Mango Puree & Passion Fruit Juice Blend
Peach, Pear, Grape, Mango, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Light Cream
Cow's Milk, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-van Camp — Lemon-lime Zero Sugar Thirst Quencher, Lemon-lime
Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle Dreyer's Ice Cream — Pomegranate Fruit Ice Bars, Pomegranate
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Carrot, Carob
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kellogg Company Us — Kellogg's Fruit Pieces Non-licensed Mixed Berry 2.5oz
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-van Camp — Kiwi Strawberry Smooth Finish Thirst Quencher, Kiwi Strawberry
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Progresso Organic Minestrone Soup
Tomato, Carrot, Kidney Bean, Celery, Onion, Wheat, Egg White, Corn, Spinach, Sunflower, Garlic, Oregano, Citric Acid, Basil, Black Pepper, Thyme, Bay Leaf
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Kids Soft Candy Tropical Fat Free1x5 Oz
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Watermelon Soft Candy Watermelon Fat Free24x2 Oz
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Swedish Fish Soft Candy Tropical Fat Free1x5 Oz
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Honest Tea Ginger Oasis Herbal Tea Glass Bottle, 16 Fl Oz
Ginger, Lemon, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Cape Cod Potato Chips Inc. — Tortilla Dipping Shells Corn Tortilla Chips
Corn, Canola/Rapeseed, Sunflower, Pinto Bean, Rice, Cane Sugar, Onion, Chili Pepper, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Tomato Paste
Tomato, Olive, Garlic, Citric Acid, Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Victoria Amory & Co. Llc — Sauce
Lemon, Cane Sugar, Tomato, Olive, Ginger, Grape, Garlic, Chili Pepper, Citric Acid, Solanine, Capsaicin
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Lawry's, All Purpose Salt-free Seasoning
Black Pepper, Celery, Turmeric, Garlic, Onion, Carrot, Citric Acid, Sesame, Orange, Corn, Lemon
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — DIET LOW CALORIE CITRUS SODA, CITRUS, CITRUS
Orange, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Aspartame, Caffeine, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Diet Soda
Citric Acid, Aspartame, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Foods-Snack Foods Group — PREMIUM PORK SMOKED SAUSAGE STICKS, SPICY CHILI & GARLIC SEASONED
Pork, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Chili Pepper, Celery, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. — Flyte, Sports Hydration Mix, Lemon, Lime
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-Van Camp — GREEN APPLE FIERCE THIRST QUENCHER, GREEN APPLE
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Gatorade Thirst Quencher Frost Crisp & Cool Riptide Rush 20 Fluid Ounce Plastic Bottle
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, Blue #1, Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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