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 243 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — GUM DROPS CANDY, GUM DROPS
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Blue #1
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nabisco Food Company — DRY ROASTED SWEET & SPICY PEANUTS, SWEET & SPICY
Peanut, Cane Sugar, Corn, Garlic, Onion, Citric Acid, Honey
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — ORIGINAL PEACH & CHERRY GRAPE & CHERRY LEMONADE & CHERRY GUMMIES CANDY, ORIGINAL
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — SOURS CHERRY, BLUE RASPBERRY, WATERMELON & STRAWBERRY GUMMIES, SOURS
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, Blue #1
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
NESTLE DREYER'S ICE CREAM — FRUIT & CREAM BARS, CREAMY MANGO
Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Mango, Corn, Citric Acid, Carob, Turmeric
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — HUNT'S, DINNER SAUCE, GREEK, HUNT'S, DINNER SAUCE, GREEK
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Corn, Garlic, Onion, Citric Acid, Olive
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — LIGHT NON FAT YOGURT, RASPBERRY
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Raspberry, Corn, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Whey
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Frito-Lay Company — MEXICAN STYLE BLACK BEAN WITH A HINT OF GARLIC DIP, MEXICAN STYLE BLACK BEAN
Onion, Canola/Rapeseed, Tomato, Garlic, Cane Sugar, Chili Pepper, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — BLUEBERRY SMALL CURD COTTAGE DOUBLES, BLUEBERRY
Blueberry, Cottage Cheese, Cow's Milk, Carrageenan, Citric Acid, Cane Sugar, Corn
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The J.M. Smucker Company — QUICK BREAD & MUFFIN MIX, TOO
Wheat, Cane Sugar, Canola/Rapeseed, Corn, Soybean, Lecithin (Soy), Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
PEPSICO, INC — LEMONADE JUICE DRINK FROM CONCENTRATE, LEMONADE
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Lemon, Benzoic Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #5
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — UPROAR SODA CHARGED WITH BERRY KIWI, UPROAR
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Unilever — ICED PEACHY GREEN TEA CONCENTRATE, ICED PEACHY GREEN
Tea, Mint/Menthol, Cane Sugar, Peach, Ginger, Apple, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — TEXAS STYLE SEASONING MIX, TEXAS STYLE
Chili Pepper, Paprika, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Onion, Citric Acid, Corn
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — LEMONADE
Corn, Fructose, Lemon, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #5
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
RASPBERRY FLAVORED SOUR CANDY BELTS
Cane Sugar, Corn, Wheat, Citric Acid, Raspberry, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez International, Inc. — MYSTERY 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 |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Frito Lay Salt and Pepper Sunflower Seeds 1.875 Ounce Plastic Bag
Sunflower, Corn, Black Pepper, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid, Garlic, Onion
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — GELATIN DESSERTS, STRAWBERRY LEMON LIME BERRY BLUE ORANGE
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1, FD&C Blue #2, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — MTN DEW, SODA, CITRUS, CITRUS
Fructose, Corn, Orange, Citric Acid, Caffeine, FD&C Yellow #5, Benzoic Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The J.M. Smucker Company — SUGAR FREE CHOCOLATE FUDGE FROSTING, CHOCOLATE FUDGE
Cocoa, Corn, Citric Acid, Polysorbate 80, Carrageenan, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills, Inc. — YOGURT PERFECTION, CAPPUCCINO
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Corn, Coffee, Citric Acid, Caffeine
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — CRANBERRY, BLUEBERRY AND RASPBERRY FLAVORED JUICE BEVERAGE WITH 2 OTHER JUICES FROM CONCENTRATE, CRANBERRY, BLUEBERRY AND RASPBERRY
Cranberry, Blueberry, Raspberry, Apple, Grape, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — Campbell's Condensed Tomato Soup, 10.75 Ounce Can
Tomato, Corn, Fructose, Wheat, Citric Acid, Celery, Garlic
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez International, Inc. — EXTREME 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 |
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