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 249 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Coca-Cola USA Operations — CAFFEINE FREE SODA, ORANGE
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Tropicana Twister Peach Orchard Punch Flavored Drink 59 Fluid Ounce Paper Carton
Corn, Fructose, Pineapple, Apple, Peach, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — V8, VFUSION, VEGETABLE & FRUIT JUICE, POMEGRANATE BLUEBERRY, POMEGRANATE BLUEBERRY
Sweet Potato, Carrot, Apple, Blueberry, Grape, Raspberry, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills, Inc. — STRAWBERRY, MANGO & CHERRY BUNNY FRUIT SNACKS, STRAWBERRY, MANGO & CHERRY
Cane Sugar, Tapioca, Pear, Citric Acid, Sunflower, Carrot, Turmeric
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Terrapin Ridge Farms LLC — PINEAPPLE HABANERO SAUCE, PINEAPPLE HABANERO
Pineapple, Cane Sugar, Corn, Onion, Chili Pepper, Capsaicin, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nabisco Food Company — DRY ROASTED SWEET & SPICY PEANUTS, DRY ROASTED SWEET & SPICY
Peanut, Cane Sugar, Corn, Garlic, Onion, Citric Acid, Honey
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez International, Inc. — JELLY BEANS CANDY, JELLY BEANS
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, Blue #1
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — CAMPBELL'S SOUP TOMATO
Tomato, Fructose, Corn, Wheat, Citric Acid, Celery, Garlic
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
GENERAL MILLS SALES INC. — Yoplait Original Strawberry and Strawberry Banana Gluten-Free Yogurt Cup Variety Pack 8 Count
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Strawberry, Corn, Citric Acid, Banana
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — MUSHROOM PASTA SAUCE, MUSHROOM
Tomato, Mushroom, Cane Sugar, Soybean, Onion, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — HUNT'S, PASTA SAUCE, TRADITIONAL, HUNT'S, PASTA SAUCE, TRADITIONAL
Tomato, Fructose, Corn, Soybean, Carrot, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Coca-Cola USA Operations — SODA, ORANGE
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Minute Maid Company — CHERRY FLAVORED SOFT FROZEN LIMEADE, CHERRY
Corn, Fructose, Cane Sugar, Lime, Cherry, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — CONDENSED TOMATO SOUP
Tomato, Corn, Fructose, Wheat, Citric Acid, Celery, Garlic
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — SODA, ORANGE
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Tapioca, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mission Foods Inc — ORIGINAL NAAN BREADS, ORIGINAL
Wheat, Soybean, Cane Sugar, Yeast (Baker's), Cow's Milk, Corn, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — FRUIT PUNCH FLAVORED ORANGE, FRUIT PUNCH
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1, Glycerin/Glycerol
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Company — APPLES & CRANBERRIES INSTANT OATMEAL, APPLES & CRANBERRIES
Oat, Cane Sugar, Apple, Sodium Metabisulfite, Cranberry, Cinnamon, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — WOLFGANG PUCK, MARINARA NATURAL SAUCE
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Olive, Onion, Garlic, Basil, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — V8, V-FUSION, VEGETABLE & FRUIT JUICE, STRAWBERRY, BANANA, STRAWBERRY, BANANA
Sweet Potato, Carrot, Apple, Grape, Strawberry, Banana, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills, Inc. — LIBERTE, GREEK NONFAT YOGURT, COCNUT, COCNUT
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Coconut, Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Carob
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — ORIGINAL HUMMUS, ORIGINAL
Canola/Rapeseed, Sesame, Garlic, Citric Acid, Cumin, Paprika, Lemon
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
STRAWBERRY BANANA DRINKABLE YOGURT
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Strawberry, Banana, Corn, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — MIXED FRUIT FLAVORED JUICE DRINK BLEND FROM CONCENTRATE, MIXED FRUIT
Fructose, Corn, Pear, Grape, Citric Acid, Strawberry, Orange
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
ConAgra Foods Packaged Foods, LLC — MILD RED CHILE ENCHILADA SAUCE WITH ROASTED TOMATO & GARLIC, MILD RED CHILE WITH ROASTED TOMATO & GARLIC
Tomato, Apple, Garlic, Chili Pepper, Cane Sugar, Onion, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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