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 228 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Nonfat Yogurt, Coconut Creme
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Whey, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kellogg Company Us — Kellogg's Fruit Pieces Disney Disney Monsters Inc 8oz
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Angela Mia Tomato Strips, #10 Can, 6/102 Oz., 102 Oz
Tomato, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — LEMON GLUTEN FREE CUPCAKE MIX, LEMON
Cane Sugar, Rice, Potato, Corn, Tapioca, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-van Camp — Blackberry Wave Smooth Finish Thirst Quencher, Blackberry Wave
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — V8 Splash Beverage Watermelon Cherry
Fructose, Corn, Carrot, Sweet Potato, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Watermelon
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Annie's Organic Strawberry Toaster Pastries with Frosting 6 Count
Wheat, Cane Sugar, Honey, Apple, Cow's Milk, Corn, Lemon, Strawberry, Rice, Carrot, Tapioca, Whey, Sunflower, Radish, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Muir Glen Organic Diced Tomatoes Fire Roasted No Salt
Tomato, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Swedish Fish Soft Candy Berry Fat Free1x3.4 Oz
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Gold Peak Unsweetened Lemon Tea Bottle, 52 Fl Oz
Tea, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Oaikos Greek Nonfat Yogurt
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Fructose, Corn, Vanilla, Coumarin/Vanillin, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Dannon, Oikos, Greek Yogurt, Caramel Macchiato
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Original Greek Cherry Nonfat Yogurt
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cherry, Fructose, Carrot, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — TWIZZLERS, CLASSIC BITES, CHERRY, CHERRY
Corn, Wheat, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
NESTLE INDIA LIMITED — TOMATO CHILLI SAUCE, TOMATO CHILLI
Tomato, Chili Pepper, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Onion, Garlic, Benzoic Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Lay's Limon Potato Chips 2.87 Ounce Plastic Bag
Potato, Sunflower, Corn, Canola/Rapeseed, Citric Acid, Cane Sugar, Lime
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — CHERRY, LEMON, STRAWBERRY, ORANGE ORIGINAL AIRS GUMMIES, CHERRY, LEMON, STRAWBERRY, ORANGE
Corn, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Blue #1
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — CHEDDAR CHEESE GOURMET POPPING CORN, CHEDDAR CHEESE
Corn, Cow's Milk, American Cheese, Whey, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid, Turmeric
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
STRAWBERRY FLAVORED SYRUP
Strawberry, Cane Sugar, Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
BADATZ PASKESZ FUN TIME FIZZY BOTTLES, 8.82 OZ
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, Blue #1
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Newman's Own, Inc. — SOUR CHERRY FLAVORED LICORICE BITES
Wheat, Cane Sugar, Corn, Tapioca, Cherry, Citric Acid, Sunflower
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — MTN DEW, SANGRITA BLAST, FLAVORED DEW SODA
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — CAFFEINE FREE SODA, CITRUS
Corn, Fructose, Orange, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, Soybean
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — ORANGE JUICY GELS, ORANGE
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — SMALL CURD LOW FAT COTTAGE CHEESE WITH PINEAPPLE , PINEAPPLE
Cow's Milk, Cottage Cheese, Pineapple, Cane Sugar, Carrageenan, Citric Acid, Whey
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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