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 218 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Pillsbury Pie Crusts 2 Count
Wheat, Pork, Rice, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Pepsi Zero Sugar Cola 20 Fluid Ounce Plastic Bottle
Aspartame, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Kids Soft Candy Kids Fat Free6x3.5 Lb
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 Peach Soft Candy Bulk Fat Free6x5.000 Lb
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Seagrams Ginger Ale Can, 12 Fl Oz
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Ginger
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Diced Pears in Light Syrup
Pear, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Newman's Own, Inc. — Newman's Own, Pasta Sauce, Cabernet Marinara
Tomato, Citric Acid, Grape, Cane Sugar, Olive, Soybean, Onion, Basil, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Taco Spices & Seasonings
Paprika, Chili Pepper, Onion, Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Wheat, Cocoa, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
PASKESZ WHISTLE POPS, 12 OZ
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Kids Soft Candy Orange Fat Free1x5.000 Lb
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, Fructose
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Coca-Cola USA Operations — ORIGINAL LEMONADE
Fructose, Corn, Lemon, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Ocean Spray, Craisins, Sweetened Dried Cranberries with Real Cherry Juice, Cherry
Cranberry, Cane Sugar, Cherry, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Monster Energy Company — Natural Cane Soda
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Orange
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Tribe Mediterranean Foods, Inc. — Classic Hummus
Sesame, Canola/Rapeseed, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Flavored Chia
Mango, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Minute Maid Company — Hi-c, Flavored Fruit Drink, Smashin' Wild Berry
Fructose, Corn, Apple, Pear, Blueberry, Raspberry, Citric Acid, Cane Sugar
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Minute Maid Company — Minute Maid, 100% Juice, Apple White Grape
Apple, Pear, Grape, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Monster Energy Company — AGUA FRESCA DE MELON, AGUA FRESCA
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Odom's Tennessee Pride Original Microwaveable Sausage Patties, 8 Count, 8 Oz
Pork, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-van Camp — Mango Energy Gel, Mango
Corn, Rice, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Betty Crocker Creamy Butter Potatoes Family Size
Potato, Solanine, Corn, Canola/Rapeseed, Soybean, Sunflower, Cow's Milk, Whey, Sodium Metabisulfite, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Soft Candy Fruit Fat Free1x10 Oz
Cane Sugar, Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
RAYGE CANDY & NUTS MARSHMALLOW PEANUTS, 7.5 OZ
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Soft Candy Strawberry Fat Free1x4 Oz
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Pepsi Caffeine Free Cola 2 Liter Plastic Bottle
Fructose, Corn, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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