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 250 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — SODA, RASPBERRY, CITRUS AND GENSING
Fructose, Corn, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid, Caffeine, Blue #1, FD&C Red #40
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — KOOL-AID, CAFFEINE FREE DRINK MIX, LEMONADE, LEMONADE
Cane Sugar, Fructose, Citric Acid, Corn, FD&C Yellow #5, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — V8 SPLASH BEVERAGE PINEAPPLE COCONUT
Fructose, Corn, Carrot, Sweet Potato, Citric Acid, Coconut, Cane Sugar
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The J.M. Smucker Company — STRAWBERRY FLAVORED DESSERT TOPPING, STRAWBERRY
Corn, Fructose, Strawberry, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
BASSETTS JELLY BABIES CANDY BERRY MIX
Cane Sugar, Corn, Pork, Beef, Strawberry, Raspberry, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — TROPICANA, TWISTER, SODA, GRAPE, GRAPE
Fructose, Corn, Grape, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Coca-Cola USA Operations — MELLO YELLO, NHRA, SODA, CITRUS, CITRUS
Fructose, Corn, Orange, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, FD&C Yellow #5
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez International, Inc. — STRAWBERRY WITH LIME SUGAR FREE CENTER FILLED GUM, STRAWBERRY WITH LIME
Glycerin/Glycerol, Aspartame, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — SUPER LONG NIBS CANDY, CHERRY
Corn, Wheat, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Banza LLC — SHELLS + VEGAN WHITE CHEDDAR PLANT-BASED MAC WITH CHICKPEA PASTA, SHELLS + VEGAN WHITE CHEDDAR
Tapioca, Green Pea, Sunflower, Yeast (Baker's), Garlic, Onion, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — MILD CHILI GARLIC TACO SEASONING MIX, MILD CHILI GARLIC TACO
Chili Pepper, Cumin, Paprika, Onion, Garlic, Potato, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — PEACH COBBLER, PEACH
Peach, Cane Sugar, Wheat, Corn, Soybean, Cinnamon, Citric Acid
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — FAVEREDS WATERMELON, CHERRY, STRAWBERRY, & FRUIT PUNCH FRUIT CHEWS, FAVEREDS
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Tapioca, Apple, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Minute Maid Company — LEMONADE
Fructose, Corn, Lemon, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Yellow #5
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Tribe Mediterranean Foods, Inc. — HUMMUS
Canola/Rapeseed, Sesame, Citric Acid, Olive, Lemon, Garlic, Rosemary
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
RAYGE CANDY & NUTS FRUIT FLAVORED SLICES, 16 COUNT, 8 OZ
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Blue #1, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
SOLERO — GRAPE, CHERRY CRUSHED FRUIT POPS
Grape, Cherry, Cane Sugar, Pear, Apple, Citric Acid, Beet
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The J.M. Smucker Company — GLAZED MIX, TANGERINE VANILLA CASHEW-MACADAMIA
Cashew, Cane Sugar, Tapioca, Orange, Vanilla, Citric Acid, Sunflower
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — CONDENSED TOMATO SOUP
Tomato, Fructose, Corn, Wheat, Citric Acid, Celery, Garlic
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — PROTEIN FROM VEGETABLES CHICKPEA & KALE SAUCE
Tomato, Spinach, Olive, Onion, Garlic, Citric Acid, Chili Pepper
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — PEACH MANGO SUGAR FREE DRINK MIX, PEACH MANGO
Citric Acid, Corn, Aspartame, Caffeine, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Tropicana Twister Watermelon Flavored Drink 59 Fluid Ounce Paper Carton
Fructose, Corn, Grape, Citric Acid, Watermelon, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Tropicana Twister Tropical Fruit Fury Juice Beverage 96 Fluid Ounce Plastic Bottle
Corn, Fructose, Apple, Grape, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
7 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — LOW FAT SNACK BITES, CHERRY
Corn, Wheat, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Glycerin/Glycerol
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The J.M. Smucker Company — CARAMEL FLAVORED DESSERT TOPPING, CARAMEL
Corn, Fructose, Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Coumarin/Vanillin, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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