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 255 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — V8 SPL STRAW LMNADE 64 FO
Sweet Potato, Carrot, Apple, Lemon, Strawberry, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Organic 100% Juice Tropical Punch From Concentrate
Apple, Orange, Peach, Mango, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Smoothie Blend Soymilk Chocolate Plant-based Beverage
Soybean, Cane Sugar, Cocoa, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy)
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Tropicana Farmstand Strawberry Banana 100% Fruit & Vegetable Juice 12 Fluid Ounce Plastic Bottle
Sweet Potato, Carrot, Beet, Apple, Grape, Strawberry, Banana, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — MAJOR MELON SODA CHARGED WITH WATERMELON, MAJOR MELON
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1, Watermelon
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Yoplait USA — LIGHT FAT FREE YOGURT
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Strawberry, Corn, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Aspartame
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
GENERAL MILLS SALES INC. — Fruit Roll-Ups Strawberry/Berry Berry Variety Pack 20 Count
Corn, Cane Sugar, Pear, Citric Acid, 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 BLACKBERRY CREME
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Corn, Fructose, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Bob's Red Mill Natural Foods, Inc. — Gluten Free Tropical Muesli European Style Hot or Cold Cereal
Oat, Mango, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Coconut, Sorghum, Pumpkin, Almond, Sunflower, Strawberry, Quinoa
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Organic Cranberry Juice
Apple, Cranberry, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — TWISTS, STRAWBERRY
Corn, Wheat, Cane Sugar, Soybean, Lecithin (Soy), Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Glycerin/Glycerol
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
P. K. Kinder Co., Inc. — CHILE VERDE WITH FIRE ROASTED JALAPENO RUB
Garlic, Onion, Chili Pepper, Capsaicin, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Rice, Sunflower
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — APPLE CRISP SUGARFREE GUM, APPLE CRISP
Glycerin/Glycerol, Aspartame, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — V8 V-FUSION BEVERAGE STRAWBERRY BANANA
Sweet Potato, Carrot, Beet, Apple, Grape, Strawberry, Banana, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — SOUR BERRIES STRAWBERRY, BERRY PUNCH, WILD BERRY & BLACK RASPBERRY GUMMIES, SOUR BERRIES
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1, Strawberry, Raspberry
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars Chocolate North America LLC — TROPICAL JELLYBEANS, PINEAPPLE ORANGE, WATERMELON, MANGO MELON, KIWI STRAWBERRY, STRAWBERRY BANANA, TROPICAL PUNCH
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Apple, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — LITE BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE, LITE BALSAMIC
Grape, Soybean, Canola/Rapeseed, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Capsaicin, Onion, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — MOUNTAIN DEW, GAME FUEL, FLAVORED DEW SODA, BERRY LIME, BERRY LIME
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, Glycerin/Glycerol, Blue #1, FD&C Yellow #5
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Cadia — Apricot Organic Preserves, Apricot
Apricot, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Organic Half Tea & Half Lemonade
Tea, Cane Sugar, Lemon, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — :ratio Strawberry Keto Beverage
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Whey, Sunflower, Avocado, Citric Acid, Carrot
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Califia Farms, Lp — Almondmilk
Almond, Sunflower, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Muir Glen Organic Petite Diced Fire Roasted Tomatoes with Chipotle Peppers
Tomato, Chili Pepper, Corn, Cane Sugar, Onion, Citric Acid, Garlic, Parsley, Oregano
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — Organic Fire-roasted Diced Tomatoes, Fire-roasted
Tomato, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — Kool-aid, Gelatin Snacks, Sugar Free, Low Calorie, Strawberry, Orange, Lemon Lime, Black Cherry, Strawberry, Orange, Lemon Lime, Black Cherry
Citric Acid, Aspartame, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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