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 217 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Old El Paso 25% Less Sodium Taco Seasoning Mix Value Size
Chili Pepper, Onion, Corn, Canola/Rapeseed, Soybean, Sunflower, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Muir Glen Garden Vegetable Organic Pasta Sauce
Tomato, Zucchini, Onion, Spinach, Olive, Carrot, Garlic, Basil, Citric Acid, Oregano, Black Pepper, Thyme
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Minute Maid Company — PREMIUM STRAWBERRY KIWI FLAVORED FRUIT DRINK, STRAWBERRY KIWI
Corn, Fructose, Apple, Strawberry, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dairylea Processed Cheese-spread Regular 270 Gr
Cow's Milk, Whey, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — V8 Beverage Pineapple
Sweet Potato, Carrot, Apple, Grape, Pineapple, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — CHERRY MIXED FRUIT IN NATURALLY FLAVORED 100% JUICE
Peach, Pear, Cherry, Grape, Lemon, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Rao's Specialty Foods Inc. — Rao's Homemade, Grilled Green Olives
Olive, Sunflower, Chili Pepper, Grape, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Dannon, Oikos, Greek Yogurt, Apple Pie
Yogurt, Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Apple, Cinnamon, Turmeric, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Wholesome — Gummy Bears
Tapioca, Cane Sugar, Grape, Citric Acid, Carrot, Turmeric, Sunflower
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Greek Probiotic Yogurt
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Strawberry, Carrot, Carrageenan, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods Company — Smooth Apple-strawberry Sauce with Dices of Apple
Apple, Cane Sugar, Tapioca, Strawberry, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle Waters North America Inc. — Tradewinds, Slow Brewed Iced Tea, Green Tea with Honey
Tea, Cane Sugar, Honey, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-van Camp — Gatorade, Thirst Quencher, Orange
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, Yellow #6
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Mountain Dew Voltage Soda 12 Fluid Ounce Aluminum Can
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, Blue #1, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Cheese Cake
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Blueberry, Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
La Victoria Foods Inc. — MEDIUM SUPREMA SALSA, MEDIUM
Tomato, Citric Acid, Chili Pepper, Onion, Garlic, Coriander/Cilantro
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Yoplait USA — Fat Free Greek Yogurt
Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Cinnamon, Yogurt
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Spicy Salsa Naturala Mix, Spicy Salsa Naturala
Onion, Tomato, Garlic, Chili Pepper, Paprika, Coriander/Cilantro, Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Lemon
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
R. C. Bigelow, Inc. — Lemon Ginger Caffeine Free Herbal Tea Bags, Lemon Ginger
Lemon, Cinnamon, Ginger, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle Waters North America Inc. — Nestea, Half & Half Iced Tea, Lemonade, Lemonade
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Polysorbate 80, Tea, Benzoic Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Hunts Diced Tomatoes in Sauce, 14.5 Oz
Tomato, Citric Acid, Onion, Garlic, Chili Pepper
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — La Choy Chicken Mixed Vegetables, 14 Oz
Mushroom, Solanine, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez International, Inc. — WATERMELON TWIST UNWRAPPED SUGAR FREE GUM, WATERMELON TWIST
Glycerin/Glycerol, Aspartame, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Hunts BBQ Sauce Bold, 18 Oz
Tomato, Fructose, Corn, Cane Sugar, Onion, Mustard, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Jubilee Island Punch Morning Drink
Fructose, Corn, Cane Sugar, Orange, Pineapple, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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