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 245 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Frito-Lay Company — BEEF JERKY, ORIGINAL, BOLD
Beef, Soybean, Wheat, Cane Sugar, Corn, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — V8 +Protein, Plant-Based Protein Drink, Berry Acai, 11.5 Ounce Can
Apple, Cane Sugar, Carrot, Cherry, Citric Acid, Soybean, Sweet Potato
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Coca-Cola USA Operations — ORANGE SODA, ORANGE
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez International, Inc. — BIG KIDS 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 |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — TOMATO CONDENSED SOUP, TOMATO
Tomato, Fructose, Corn, Wheat, Citric Acid, Celery, Garlic
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Bread & Circus Bakehouse, Organic Challah Bun
Wheat, Cane Sugar, Canola/Rapeseed, Egg White, Egg Yolk, Citric Acid, Honey, Yeast (Baker's)
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — LOW FAT SNACK TWISTS, CHERRY
Corn, Wheat, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — ORANGE PINEAPPLE TANGO REFRESHERS JUICE DRINK BLEND FROM CONCENTRATE, ORANGE PINEAPPLE TANGO
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Orange, Pineapple, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Coca-Cola USA Operations — LEMON-LIME & LEMONADE FLAVORED SODA WITH REAL JUICE, LEMON-LIME & LEMONADE
Corn, Fructose, Lemon, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #5
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — CHERRY-LEMON, STRAWBERRY-ORANGE, CHERRY-STRAWBERRY ORIGINAL CHEWY STICKS SWIRLERS, CHERRY-LEMON, STRAWBERRY-ORANGE, CHERRY-STRAWBERRY
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. — LEMONADE JUICE DRINK, LEMONADE
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Lemon, Benzoic Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #5
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — STRAWBERRY SUGARFREE GUM, STRAWBERRY
Glycerin/Glycerol, Aspartame, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, FD&C Red #40, Strawberry
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez International, Inc. — BITES 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 |
|
GENERAL MILLS SALES INC. — Old El Paso Medium Taco Sauce
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Garlic, Onion, Chili Pepper
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Newman's Own, Inc. — FIRE ROASTED TOMATO & GARLIC PASTA SAUCE, FIRE ROASTED TOMATO & GARLIC
Tomato, Citric Acid, Garlic, Soybean, Cane Sugar, Olive, Onion
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — CHERRY MIXED FRUIT PEACHES, PEARS, PINEAPPLE & CHERRIES IN 100% JUICE, CHERRY MIXED FRUIT
Peach, Pear, Pineapple, Cherry, Grape, Lemon, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
GENERAL MILLS SALES INC. — Annie's Classic Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese With Organic Pasta
Wheat, Whey, Cow's Milk, American Cheese, Corn, Citric Acid, Sunflower
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — MTN DEW, GAME FUEL, FLAVORED DEW SODA, LEMONADE FLAVOR WITH OTHER NATURAL FLAVORS, LEMONADE FLAVOR WITH OTHER NATURAL FLAVORS
Fructose, Corn, Grape, Citric Acid, Caffeine, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #5
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — DEW CHARGED WITH RASPBERRY CITRUS FLAVOR AND GINSENG SODA, RASPBERRY, CITRUS, GINSENG
Fructose, Corn, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid, Caffeine, Blue #1, FD&C Red #40
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
PINK CARTON LEMONADE
Fructose, Corn, Lemon, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Glycerin/Glycerol
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — JAMMERS DRINK, CHERRY
Corn, Fructose, Grape, Citric Acid, Cherry, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — NASHVILLE HOT SEASONING, NASHVILLE HOT
Paprika, Chili Pepper, Garlic, Cane Sugar, Onion, Rice, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — MAUI BURST SODA WITH A BLAST OF PINEAPPLE, MAUI BURST
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #5
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — SUGAR FREE TWISTS, STRAWBERRY
Wheat, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Red #40, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez International, Inc. — ASSORTED SOFT & CHEWY MINI CANDY, ASSORTED
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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