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 239 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — FRUIT SLICES
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Blue #1
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — DISTORTION SODA
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Blue #1
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez International, Inc. — STRIDE, SUGAR FREE GUM, LEMONBERRY, LEMONBERRY
Glycerin/Glycerol, Aspartame, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — STRAWBERRY, BERRY PUNCH, WILD BERRY & BLACK RASPBERRY SOUR BERRIES GUMMIES, STRAWBERRY, BERRY PUNCH, WILD BERRY & BLACK RASPBERRY
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, Blue #1
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Kellogg Company — BLUEBERRY WITH CARROT FLAVORED FRUIT & VEGGIE BITES, BLUEBERRY WITH CARROT
Apple, Pear, Carrot, Blueberry, Corn, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods, LLC — STRAWBERRY DOLE WHIP, STRAWBERRY
Strawberry, Cane Sugar, Coconut, Corn, Citric Acid, Tapioca, Carrageenan
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Chobani, Inc. — MIXED BERRY ZERO SUGAR YOGURT-CULTURED ULTRA-FILTERED NONFAT MILK, MIXED BERRY
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Strawberry, Blueberry, Raspberry, Citric Acid, Tapioca
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — SWANSON BROTH VEGETABLE
Carrot, Onion, Celery, Cabbage, Cane Sugar, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
APPLE SOUR STICKS
Apple, Cane Sugar, Corn, Wheat, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Blue #1
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
PEPSICO, INC — MANGO BURSTS FRUIT SNACKS, MANGO BURSTS
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Mango, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
ConAgra Foods Packaged Foods, LLC — ORIGINAL GUACAMOLE MIX WITH TANGY TOMATILLO, GREEN CHILE & GARLIC, ORIGINAL WITH TANGY TOMATILLO, GREEN CHILE & GARLIC
Chili Pepper, Garlic, Onion, Coriander/Cilantro, Lime, Citric Acid, Cane Sugar
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — JINGLE BERRY STRAWBERRY RASPBERRY FLAVORED JUICE DRINK BLEND FROM CONCENTRATE, STRAWBERRY RASPBERRY
Apple, Citric Acid, Corn, FD&C Red #40, Fructose, Raspberry, Strawberry
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-Cola Company — TANGERINE
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Caffeine, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — WATERMELON SUGARFREE GUM, WATERMELON
Glycerin/Glycerol, Aspartame, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, FD&C Red #40, Watermelon
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
ConAgra Foods Packaged Foods, LLC — CHIPOTLE GARLIC SALSA WITH CHARRED TOMATO, CHIPOTLE GARLIC WITH CHARRED TOMATO
Tomato, Garlic, Chili Pepper, Onion, Soybean, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
MARKET PANTRY — TRADITIONAL MEAT FLAVORED PASTA SAUCE
Tomato, Fructose, Corn, Beef, Soybean, Onion, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — SOUR WORMMIES CANDY, SOUR WORMMIES
Corn, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #6, Blue #1
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hormel Foods Corporation — American Organic Pasteurized Process Cheese, American
American Cheese, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
PIA COLADA DRINKABLE LOWFAT YOGURT
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Pineapple, Coconut, Corn, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Company — APPLES & CINNAMON INSTANT OATMEAL PROTEIN, APPLES & CINNAMON
Oat, Cane Sugar, Whey, Cow's Milk, Apple, Cinnamon, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Yoplait USA — PEACH MANGO FLAVORED CULTURED DAIRY BEVERAGE SMOOTHIE, PEACH MANGO
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Peach, Corn, Mango, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
GENERAL MILLS SALES INC. — Yoplait Greek 100 Whips! Strawberry Cheesecake Gluten-Free Low-Fat Yogurt Mousse Cup
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Corn, Cow's Milk, Strawberry, Whey, Yogurt
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez International, Inc. — MELOPEACH SUGAR FREE GUM, MELOPEACH
Glycerin/Glycerol, Aspartame, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Tropicana Twister Berry Punch Flavored Drink 59 Fluid Ounce Paper Carton
Fructose, Corn, Grape, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
PepsiCo, Inc. (Health Warrior) — SUPERFOOD PROTEIN BAR, LEMON GOLDENBERRY
Cashew, Rice, Green Pea, Coconut, Lemon, Sunflower, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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