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 247 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — HERB & GARLIC MARINADE, HERB & GARLIC
Soybean, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Lemon, Onion, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — CANDY SHOP SOUR FRUIT SLICES, SOUR FRUIT
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 |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — CRYSTAL LIGHT, DRINK MIX, LEMON ICED TEA, LEMON ICED TEA
Citric Acid, Corn, Tea, Aspartame, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Blue #1
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — SOFT DRINK MIX, LEMONADE
Cane Sugar, Fructose, Citric Acid, Corn, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, FD&C Yellow #5
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — TROPICANA, TWISTER, SODA, STRAWBERRY, STRAWBERRY
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40, Glycerin/Glycerol, Blue #1
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Unilever Bestfoods North America — CHICKEN CONCENTRATED STOCK, CHICKEN
Chicken, Cane Sugar, Yeast (Baker's), Corn, Onion, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — BAJA BLAST SODA WITH A BLAST OF TROPICAL LIME, BAJA BLAST
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The J.M. Smucker Company — CASHEW-MACADAMIA GLAZED MIX, TANGERINE VANILLA
Cashew, Cane Sugar, Tapioca, Orange, Vanilla, Citric Acid, Sunflower
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez International, Inc. — SOUR THE SWEET. SOFT & CHEWY CANDY, SOUR THE SWEET.
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. — Progresso Vegetable Classics Tomato Basil Gluten-Free Canned Soup
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Corn, Soybean, Onion, Basil, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — BQ MAPLE LINK 12/6.4 OZ
Pork, Turkey, Soybean, Cane Sugar, Maple Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — HOT PICANTE SALSA, HOT PICANTE
Tomato, Chili Pepper, Capsaicin, Onion, Garlic, Citric Acid, Corn
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — MOUNTAIN DEW, SODA
Fructose, Corn, Orange, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, FD&C Yellow #5
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Coca-Cola USA Operations — MELLO YELLO, ZERO, ZERO-CALORIE SODA, CITRUS, CITRUS
Citric Acid, Orange, Benzoic Acid, Aspartame, Caffeine, Carob, FD&C Yellow #5
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — LEMONADE FLAVORED BEVERAGE WITH A 34% JUICE BLEND OF 3 VEGETABLE AND FRUIT JUICES FROM CONCENTRATE WITH GREEN TEA, LEMONADE
Tea, Lemon, Apple, Carrot, Sweet Potato, Citric Acid, Cane Sugar
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — V8 +Protein, Plant-Based Protein Drink, Pineapple Mango, 11.5 Ounce Can
Carrot, Sweet Potato, Green Pea, Apple, Pineapple, Mango, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Coca-Cola USA Operations — FANTA, SELECT, SODA, ORANGE, ORANGE
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — ORIGINAL SEASONING, ORIGINAL
Chili Pepper, Paprika, Oregano, Corn, Onion, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — GARLIC & HERB PREMIUM PASTA SAUCE, GARLIC & HERB
Tomato, Fructose, Corn, Soybean, Garlic, Onion, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — 5 FLAVORS CANDY CANES, WATERMELON, PINEAPPLE, RASPBERRY, ORANGE, CHERRY
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 — ASSORTED FRUIT FLAVORED SNACKS, ASSORTED FRUIT
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
RAYGE CANDY & NUTS LOLLIES, 5 OZ
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1, FD&C Yellow #6
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Frito-Lay Company — BEEF JERKY, BOLD, CHILI LIME
Beef, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Lime, Chili Pepper, Soybean, MSG
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — CRYSTAL LIGHT, DRINK MIX, RASPBERRY ICE, RASPBERRY ICE
Citric Acid, Aspartame, Corn, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — LIPTON, SPARKLING ICED TEA, LEMONADE, LEMONADE
Cane Sugar, Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Lemon, Tea, Benzoic Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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