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 248 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — SWEET ICED TEA DRINK MIX, SWEET ICED TEA
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Tea, Corn, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Blue #1
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — FLAVORED SODA, ORANGE
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez International, Inc. — KIDS EXTREME SOFT & CHEWY CANDY
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — SEASONED PORK JERKY, BLACK CHERRY BARBECUE
Pork, Cane Sugar, Tomato, Cherry, Citric Acid, Onion, Garlic
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
PASKESZ FIZZ LOLLIPOPS, 9 OZ
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — SUNDAE DREAM CARAMEL THICK AND DELICIOUS SYRUP, SUNDAE DREAM CARAMEL
Corn, Fructose, Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Minute Maid Company — ORANGEADE JUICE, ORANGEADE
Fructose, Corn, Orange, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Yellow #6
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — SEASONED FISH FRY MIX, SEASONED FISH FRY
Chili Pepper, Citric Acid, Corn, Garlic, Lemon, MSG, Onion
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — FLAVORED COFFEE DRINK, SALTED CARAMEL MOCHA
Cane Sugar, Coconut, Corn, Cow's Milk, Coffee, Cocoa, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez International, Inc. — LEMONBERRY SUGAR FREE GUM, LEMONBERRY
Glycerin/Glycerol, Aspartame, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — STRAWBERRY LEMONADE JUICE DRINK BLEND FROM CONCENTRATE, STRAWBERRY LEMONADE
Fructose, Corn, Lemon, Cane Sugar, Strawberry, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Coca-Cola USA Operations — FLAVORED SODA, CITRUS
Fructose, Corn, Orange, Citric Acid, Caffeine, FD&C Yellow #5, Benzoic Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — PAPAYA WATERMELON ADVENTURES FLAVORED JUICE DRINK BLEND FROM CONCENTRATE, PAPAYA WATERMELON
Cane Sugar, Pear, Grape, Citric Acid, Orange, Papaya, Watermelon
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — FLAVORED COFFEE DRINK, SWEET & CREAMY MOCHA
Cane Sugar, Coconut, Corn, Cow's Milk, Coffee, Cocoa, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — FRANK'S REDHOT, RAJILI HOT SAUCE, SWEET GINGER, SWEET GINGER
Cane Sugar, Chili Pepper, Ginger, Garlic, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Preferred Wholesale, Inc. — TERIYAKI MEAT STICKS, TERIYAKI
Beef, Pork, Cane Sugar, Corn, MSG, Soybean, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
PASKESZ FIZZERS, 3 OZ
Corn, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40, Blue #2
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
STRAWBERRY SHOE LACES CANDY
Corn, Fructose, Wheat, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — VERDE SALSA, MILD
Chili Pepper, Onion, Cane Sugar, Corn, Garlic, Coriander/Cilantro, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — BONELESS SKINLESS CHICKEN FOR FAJITAS
Chicken, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Onion, Chili Pepper, Corn, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — LIPTON, TEA, LEMON, LEMON
Tea, Lemon, Caffeine, Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Cadia — Organic Original Almondmilk
Almond, Sunflower, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream Inc. — STRAWBERRY LEMONADE FRUIT ICE BARS, STRAWBERRY LEMONADE
Cane Sugar, Strawberry, Lemon, Citric Acid, Carob, Beet, Turmeric
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Frito-Lay Company — BEEF JERKY, SIZZLING SWEET
Beef, Cane Sugar, Wheat, Soybean, Corn, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez International, Inc. — ORANGE & RASPBERRY ZOMBIE SOFT & CHEWY CANDY, ORANGE & RASPBERRY
Cane Sugar, Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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