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 259 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
The Quaker Oats Company — PEACHES & CREAM FLAVOR INSTANT OATMEAL, PEACHES & CREAM
Oat, Cane Sugar, Sunflower, Canola/Rapeseed, Whey, Cow's Milk, Peach, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Jus — Organic Barbecue Crisp & Savory Pea Puffs
Green Pea, Rice, Sunflower, Cane Sugar, Tapioca, Tomato, Onion, Garlic, Citric Acid, Yeast (Baker's), Paprika
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Organic Taco Seasoning, Spicy
Rice, Chili Pepper, Garlic, Paprika, Onion, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Yeast (Baker's)
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
HI-C TORRENTIAL TROPICAL PUNCH CARTONS, 6 FL OZ, 8 PACK
Fructose, Corn, Pear, Pineapple, Orange, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Annie's Organic Sunny Citrus Bunny Fruit Snacks
Tapioca, Cane Sugar, Pear, Citric Acid, Sunflower
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Muir Glen Chunky Tomato Herb Organic Pasta Sauce
Tomato, Onion, Olive, Garlic, Basil, Oregano, Citric Acid, Thyme, Black Pepper
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — Tropical Punch Flavor Sugar Free Low Calorie Drink Mix, Tropical Punch
Citric Acid, Aspartame, Corn, FD&C Red #40
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
HI-C SMASHIN WILD BERRY CARTONS, 6 FL OZ, 8 PACK
Fructose, Corn, Pear, Apple, Citric Acid, Cane Sugar, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company — Organic Green Tea, Honey
Tea, Cane Sugar, Honey, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — ORIGINAL CHERRY, ORANGE, STRAWBERRY, LEMON, GREEN APPLE & GRAPE JELLY BEANS, ORIGINAL
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Apple, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Organic 100% Tomato Juice
Tomato, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Mondelez International, Inc. — LIME PASSIONFRUIT SUGAR FREE GUM WITH XYLITOL, LIME PASSIONFRUIT
Glycerin/Glycerol, Aspartame, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, FD&C Yellow #5, Lime
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
BAJA MANGO GEM SODA
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40, Mango
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
OG — TAFFY WHEEL
Corn, Cane Sugar, Coconut, Egg White, Citric Acid, Blue #1, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — MIXED BERRY CAFFEINATED & CULTURED DAIRY DRINK, MIXED BERRY
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Blueberry, Strawberry, Raspberry, Caffeine, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — CHILI RED BEANS IN CHILI SAUCE
Kidney Bean, Tomato, Cane Sugar, Corn, Chili Pepper, Garlic, Onion, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Minute Maid Company — WATERMELON PUNCH 3% JUICE BLEND OF PEAR, APPLE AND WATERMELON JUICES FROM CONCENTRATE, WATERMELON PUNCH
Fructose, Corn, Pear, Apple, Watermelon, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Red #40
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico, Inc. (cytosport) — Organic Protein Shake, Vanilla
Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Canola/Rapeseed, Sunflower, Citric Acid, Carrageenan
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Muir Glen Organic Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes with Medium Green Chilies
Tomato, Chili Pepper, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — 365 Everyday Value, Organic Shells & Cheese
Wheat, Cow's Milk, Whey, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Sugar Free Low Calorie Drink Mix, Fruit Punch
Citric Acid, Corn, Aspartame, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Annie's Organic Mini Bunny Fruit Snacks 5 Count
Tapioca, Cane Sugar, Pear, Citric Acid, Sunflower, Carrot, Blueberry, Turmeric
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The J.m. Smucker Company — Dickinson's, Sugar Free Apricot Preserves
Apricot, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — CHERRY BUBBLE GUM, CHERRY
Cane Sugar, Corn, Glycerin/Glycerol, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Aspartame, FD&C Red #40
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills, Inc. — Organic Bunny Fruit Snacks, Berry Patch
Tapioca, Cane Sugar, Pear, Citric Acid, Carrot, Sunflower
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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