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 232 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — MEXICO CITY TACO SEASONING, MEXICO CITY TACO
Chili Pepper, Cumin, Oregano, Onion, Garlic, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez International, Inc. — TROPICAL SOFT & CHEWY CANDY, PASSION FRUIT, TROPICAL TWIST, PINEAPPLE, PARADISE PUNCH
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
GOOD & GATHER — GENOA SALAMI, PROVOLONE CHEESE SLICES & ALMONDS
Pork, Beef, Corn, Garlic, Citric Acid, Cow's Milk, Almond
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — SUGAR FREE DRINK MIX, ICED TEA WITH LEMON
Citric Acid, Corn, Tea, Aspartame, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — CAPRI SUN JUICE DRINK BLEND VARIETY PACK, 6 FL OZ, 30 COUNT
Cane Sugar, Pear, Grape, Orange, Citric Acid, Pineapple, Strawberry
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
RBR Wholesale, LLC — MEXICAN CANDY, DUVALIN
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Chili Pepper, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #6, Blue #1
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — BERRY BURST SUGARFREE GUM, BERRY BURST
Glycerin/Glycerol, Aspartame, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — STRAWBERRY LEMONADE ICE CUBES SUGAR FREE GUM, STRAWBERRY LEMONADE
Malt, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, FD&C Red #40, Aspartame, Blue #1
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — ASST. JOLLY POPS
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — TRADITIONAL PASTA SAUCE, TRADITIONAL
Tomato, Corn, Fructose, Soybean, Onion, Olive, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Good & Gather — Unsweetened Original Almondmilk, Unsweetened Original
Almond, Sunflower, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — V8, FLAVORED VEGETABLE & FRUIT BEVERAGE, MANDARIN ORANGE KIWI, MANDARIN ORANGE KIWI
Sweet Potato, Carrot, Apple, Orange, Tea, Citric Acid, Caffeine
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills, Inc. — TACO SAUCE, HOT
Tomato, Corn, Cane Sugar, Chili Pepper, Citric Acid, Onion, Garlic
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — TWIZZLERS, BITES, CLASSIC BITES, CHERRY, CHERRY
Corn, Wheat, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — PLUM TOMATO BASIL SAUCE
Tomato, Citric Acid, Onion, Olive, Garlic, Basil, Black Pepper
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Unilever — GINGERBREAD SPICE LATTE DECAF DECAFFEINATED BLACK TEA CONCENTRATE, GINGERBREAD SPICE LATTE
Cane Sugar, Tea, Ginger, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Black Pepper, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — CAMPBELL'S CONDENSED SOUP TOMATO
Tomato, Corn, Fructose, Wheat, Citric Acid, Celery, Garlic
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
SEA SALT & PEPPER PISTACHIOS
Pistachio, Black Pepper, Cane Sugar, Onion, Garlic, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — JAMBALAYA RICE MIX, NEW ORLEANS STYLE
Rice, Onion, Garlic, Cane Sugar, Soybean, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Coca-Cola USA Operations — FANTA, SODA, ORANGE, ORANGE
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — SUBURBAN, FLAVORED SODA, FRUIT PUNCH, FRUIT PUNCH
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40, Glycerin/Glycerol, Blue #1
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Quaker Apple & Cranberries Instant Oatmeal(8-1.51 oz)12.1 ounce 8 Packets Box
Oat, Cane Sugar, Apple, Cranberry, Cinnamon, Sodium Metabisulfite, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
BAJA GOLD SODA
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, FD&C Yellow #5, Pineapple
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mission Foods Inc — ORIGINAL MINI NAAN BREADS, ORIGINAL
Wheat, Soybean, Cane Sugar, Yeast (Baker's), Cow's Milk, Corn, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — LITE RASPBERRY VINAIGRETTE DRESSING, RASPBERRY
Cane Sugar, Raspberry, Onion, Canola/Rapeseed, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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