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 231 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Mondelez International, Inc. — LEMONADE FEST SOFT & CHEWY CANDY, LEMONADE FEST
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-Cola Company — LEMONADE
Corn, Fructose, Lemon, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, Glycerin/Glycerol
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — CHERRY SUGARFREE GUM, CHERRY
Glycerin/Glycerol, Aspartame, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, FD&C Red #40, Cherry
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — ORIGINAL TACO SEASONING MIX
Chili Pepper, Paprika, Oregano, Corn, Onion, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hillshire Brands Company — SPICY PLANT BASED NUGGETS!, SPICY
Soybean, Wheat, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid, Garlic, Onion, Lecithin (Soy)
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — LEMONADE FLAVORED JUICE BEVERAGE WITH A 5% BLEND OF 2 JUICES FROM CONCENTRATE, LEMONADE
Fructose, Corn, Sweet Potato, Carrot, Cane Sugar, Lemon, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Yoplait USA — LOWFAT YOGURT MOUSSE
Yogurt, Cow's Milk, Whey, Cane Sugar, Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — TOMATO & BASIL PASTA SAUCE, TOMATO & BASIL
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Soybean, Citric Acid, Garlic, Onion, Basil
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Minute Maid Company — FRUIT PUNCH JUICE
Corn, Fructose, Pear, Apple, Pineapple, Cherry, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Original Unsweetened Almondmilk, Original Unsweetened
Almond, Sunflower, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez International, Inc. — TRICKSTERS SOFT & CHEWY CANDY
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Post Consumer Brands, LLC — BAKED WHITE CHEDDAR CHEESE PUFFS, WHITE CHEDDAR
Corn, Canola/Rapeseed, Sunflower, Whey, Cow's Milk, American Cheese, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
PepsiCo, Inc. (CytoSport) — MUSCLE MILK, NON DAIRY PROTEIN SHAKE, CHOCOLATE
Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Cocoa, Canola/Rapeseed, Sunflower, Citric Acid, Carrageenan
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — PINEAPPLE SODA, PINEAPPLE
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — TROPICAL FRUIT COLA, TROPICAL FRUIT
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez International, Inc. — ORANGE & PURPLE SOFT & CHEWY CANDY, ORANGE & PURPLE
Cane Sugar, Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-Van Camp — WATERMELON ENERGY GEL WITH CAFFEINE, WATERMELON
Watermelon, Caffeine, Fructose, Citric Acid, Corn, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
PepsiCo, Inc. (BFY Brands) — WHITE CHEDDAR POPPED-CORN SNACK, WHITE CHEDDAR
Corn, Sunflower, Whey, Cow's Milk, Onion, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — PREGO SAUCES MUSHROOM
Tomato, Mushroom, Cane Sugar, Canola/Rapeseed, Citric Acid, Onion, Garlic
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
GUMMY BEARS CANDY
Corn, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, Blue #1
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
MONDELEZ INTERNATIONAL, INC. — SOFT & CHEWY CANDY
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Blue #1
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
PepsiCo, Inc. (CytoSport) — PEACH FLAVOR YOGURT PROTEIN SHAKE, PEACH
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Corn, Sunflower, Fructose, Canola/Rapeseed, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — ORIGINAL LOW FAT YOGURT, BOSTON CREAM PIE
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Turmeric
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — LOWFAT COTTAGE CHEESE, SMALL CURD
Cow's Milk, Cottage Cheese, Whey, Citric Acid, Carrageenan, Polysorbate 80, Corn
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — BQ BNS MAPLE LINKS 4/32Z
Pork, Turkey, Soybean, Cane Sugar, Corn, Maple Sugar, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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