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 234 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Nestle USA — PIXY STIX 2500Cnt Bulk 12.45lb
Corn, Citric Acid, Blue #1, Blue #2, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Coca-Cola USA Operations — MELLO YELLO, PEACH CITRUS FLAVORED SODA, PEACH CITRUS, PEACH CITRUS
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, FD&C Yellow #5, Glycerin/Glycerol
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — ACAI BLUEBERRY DRINK MIX PACKETS, ACAI BLUEBERRY
Citric Acid, Aspartame, Corn, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-Cola Company — SODA, TROPICAL PUNCH
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — LIGHT RASPBERRY VINAIGRETTE DRESSING, RASPBERRY VINAIGRETTE
Cane Sugar, Grape, Raspberry, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — ORGANIC FRUIT & VEGGIE BLEND
Apple, Carrot, Sweet Potato, Grape, Raspberry, Lemon, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Original Almondmilk, Original
Almond, Cane Sugar, Sunflower, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
WELCH'S — BLENDED NONFAT YOGURT
Yogurt, Cow's Milk, Whey, Cane Sugar, Grape, Corn, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — V8, RED RADIANCE, VEGETABLE & FRUIT BEVERAGE, WATERMELON & GUAVA, WATERMELON & GUAVA
Sweet Potato, Carrot, Beet, Apple, Watermelon, Grape, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — MTN DEW, SODA, DISTORTION, DISTORTION
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Blue #1
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — V8 ENGY SPKLG LEM LIM 11.5FO
Sweet Potato, Carrot, Apple, Grape, Citric Acid, Caffeine, Tea
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — MEDIUM THICK & CHUNKY SALSA, MEDIUM
Tomato, Citric Acid, Chili Pepper, Onion, Garlic, Capsaicin, Solanine
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — BLACK CHERRY BARBECUE, BLACK CHERRY BARBECUE
Cane Sugar, Tomato, Cherry, Corn, Garlic, Onion, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — PORK JERKY, BLACK CHERRY BARBECUE
Pork, Cane Sugar, Tomato, Cherry, Citric Acid, Onion, Garlic
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Frito-Lay Company — SALT & VINEGAR POTATO CHIPS, SALT & VINEGAR
Potato, Sunflower, Corn, Canola/Rapeseed, Citric Acid, MSG, Cow's Milk
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — ORIGINAL HUMMUS SINGLES, ORIGINAL
Canola/Rapeseed, Sesame, Garlic, Citric Acid, Cumin, Paprika, Lemon
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — Campbell's Classic Condensed Healthy Request Tomato Soup, 50 Ounce Cans, 12-Pack
Tomato, Fructose, Corn, Wheat, Citric Acid, Celery, Garlic
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez International, Inc. — TROPICAL MINI SOFT & CHEWY CANDY, TROPICAL MINI
Cane Sugar, Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Blue #1
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nabisco Food Company — HOT & SPICY CASHEWS, HOT & SPICY
Cashew, Peanut, Corn, Garlic, Onion, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid
|
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, Blue #1
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
BASSETTS CANDY
Corn, Wheat, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Paprika, Turmeric, Coconut
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
SOUR GUMMY WORMS 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 |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — JUICE COCKTAIL FROM CONCENTRATE SYRUP, GRAPE CRANBERRY
Corn, Fructose, Grape, Cranberry, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — CRACKED PEPPER & OLIVE OIL CREAM CHEESE SPREAD, CRACKED PEPPER & OLIVE OIL
Cow's Milk, Whey, Olive, Black Pepper, Carob, Onion, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — FRUIT QUAKE SODA WITH A BLAST OF FRUITCAKE, FRUIT QUAKE
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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