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 251 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — PEACH LEMONADE FLAVORED SPARKLING DRINK, PEACH LEMONADE
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Lemon, Peach, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Yoplait USA — KEY LIME FLAVORED DAIRY SNACK, KEY LIME
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Corn, Lime, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — MONTREAL STEAK 30 MINUTE MARINADE, MONTREAL STEAK
Cane Sugar, Black Pepper, Chili Pepper, Garlic, Onion, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
P. K. Kinder Co., Inc. — GARLIC & HERB SEASONING, GARLIC & HERB
Garlic, Onion, Parsley, Cane Sugar, Lemon, Citric Acid, Sunflower, Rice
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — FRUIT CHEWS MINIS, ORIGINAL, CHERRY, ORANGE, STRAWBERRY & LEMON
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Tapioca, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — NON FAT YOGURT, LIGHT VANILLA
Yogurt, Cow's Milk, Fructose, Corn, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Coumarin/Vanillin, Vanilla
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Unilever Bestfoods North America — Avocado Vegan Mayo, Avocado Vegan
Avocado, Lime, Coconut, Rosemary, Sunflower, Black Pepper, Citric Acid, Mustard
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Wholesome Valley Foods — Organic Crunchy Barbeque Plantain Nuggets, Barbeque
Coconut, Cane Sugar, Tomato, Onion, Paprika, Garlic, Citric Acid, Solanine, Capsaicin
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Muir Glen Organic Petite Diced Fire Roasted Green Tomatoes
Tomato, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Campbell Soup Company — Pacific Foods Organic Light in Sodium Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Soup, 32 Oz Carton (case of 12)
Cow's Milk, Tomato, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Citric Acid, Rice, Onion
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills, Inc. — GREEN GIANT, STEAMERS, LIGHTLY SAUCED MARKET BLEND
Carrot, Zucchini, Corn, Solanine, Cane Sugar, Onion, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez International, Inc. — Wild Strawberry+tangy Citrus Layers Sugar Free Gum, Wild Strawberry+tangy Citrus
Aspartame, Citric Acid, Coconut, FD&C Red #40, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills, Inc. — Organic Tropical Treat Bunny Fruit Flavored Snacks
Rice, Cane Sugar, Tapioca, Pear, Citric Acid, Sunflower, Carrot
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Fun Organic Confetti Toppings
Cane Sugar, Tapioca, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — CHERRY TOMATO & ROASTED GARLIC PREMIUM PASTA SAUCE, CHERRY TOMATO & ROASTED GARLIC
Tomato, Garlic, Olive, Cane Sugar, Onion, Basil, Black Pepper, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Italian Vegan Dressing, Italian
Soybean, Corn, Cane Sugar, Tomato, Onion, Garlic, Lemon, Solanine, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Organic Fruit Snack, Carrot and Orange
Apple, Grape, Carrot, Orange, Tapioca, Carob, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — V8 Original 100% Vegetable Juice, 11.5 FL OZ Can
Tomato, Carrot, Celery, Beet, Parsley, Lettuce, Spinach, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico, Inc. (cytosport) — Chocolate Flavor Organic Non Dairy Protein Shake, Chocolate
Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Cocoa, Canola/Rapeseed, Sunflower, Carrageenan, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — V8 +hydrate Plant-based Hydrating Beverage, Coconut Watermelon, 8 Oz. Can (pack of 6)
Sweet Potato, Citric Acid, Coconut
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Annie's Organic Summer Strawberry Bunny Fruit Snacks 10 Count
Rice, Cane Sugar, Tapioca, Pear, Citric Acid, Sunflower, Carrot
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Cascadian Farm Organic Raspberry Fruit Spread
Cane Sugar, Raspberry, Lemon, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Muir Glen Organic Diced Tomatoes with Garlic & Onion
Tomato, Garlic, Onion, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Organic Summer Strawberry Bunny Fruit Snacks
Tapioca, Cane Sugar, Pear, Citric Acid, Sunflower, Carrot
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — TITANFALL 2 SODA, MANGO HEAT
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
Search Any Product
Check any grocery product against the full MRT 176 panel — not just Citric Acid.
Open the Food Checker