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 261 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
The J.M. Smucker Company — PILLSBURY, EASY FROST, NO-FUSS FROSTING, VANILLA DREAM, VANILLA DREAM
Cane Sugar, Beet, Corn, Fructose, Canola/Rapeseed, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company — Organic Juice Drink , Berry Berry Good Lemonade
Grape, Lemon, Cranberry, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Organic Coconut Milk
Coconut, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Frito-Lay Company — SEA SALT & VINEGAR KETTLE COOKED POTATO CHIPS, SEA SALT & VINEGAR
Potato, Corn, Canola/Rapeseed, Sunflower, Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Sugar Free Blue Raspberry Flavor Sports Drink
Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Wholesome Sweeteners, Inc. — Wholesome!, Organic Lite Pancake Syrup
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Good & Gather — Berry Lemonade Flavored Organic Juice Drink From Concentrate Pouches, Berry Lemonade
Apple, Strawberry, Raspberry, Lemon, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Sugar Free Pancake & Waffle Syrup, Sugar Free
Aspartame, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — GREEN TEA WITH GINSENG AND HONEY DRINK MIX, GREEN TEA WITH GINSENG AND HONEY
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Corn, Tea, Caffeine, Honey, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
International Wholesalers Corp — SPICY HOT 100% VEGETABLE JUICE NOT FROM CONCENTRATE, SPICY HOT
Tomato, Carrot, Celery, Beet, Parsley, Lettuce, Spinach, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
TOTOLE — GRANULATED CHICKEN FLAVOR SOUP BASE MIX, CHICKEN
MSG, Cane Sugar, Rice, Chicken, Soybean, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico, Inc. (cytosport) — Classic Chocolate Plant-based Protein Powder, Classic Chocolate
Green Pea, Cocoa, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Muir Glen Organic Petite Diced Fire Roasted Tomatoes with Chipotle Peppers
Tomato, Corn, Cane Sugar, Chili Pepper, Paprika, Onion, Citric Acid, Garlic, Parsley, Oregano
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Organic Beef Jerky, Original
Beef, Cane Sugar, Soybean, Wheat, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The J.m. Smucker Company — Sugar Free Peach Preserves
Peach, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — ROASTED GARLIC & HERB SEASONINGENSION, ROASTED GARLIC & HERB
Garlic, Black Pepper, Coriander/Cilantro, Parsley, Cane Sugar, Onion, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Peaches & Pears in Organic Pear Juice From Concentrate, Peaches & Pears
Peach, Pear, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — Sweet Watermelon Flavored Sugar Free Gum, Sweet Watermelon
Glycerin/Glycerol, Aspartame, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Mott's Gluten-free Assorted Fruit Snacks Value Pack 22 Count
Corn, Cane Sugar, Pear, Apple, Carrot, Citric Acid, Sunflower, Canola/Rapeseed
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc — Snack Pack Sugar-free Strawberry & Cherry Flavored Low Calorie Juicy Gels, 3.25 Oz. 12ct Family Pack
Apple, Carrageenan, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Tribe Mediterranean Foods, Inc. — Tribe, Gluten-free Hummus, Garlic
Garlic, Canola/Rapeseed, Sesame, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Whole Foods Market, Organic Date & Fig Nonfat Greek Yogurt
Yogurt, Cow's Milk, Date, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Fruit Roll-ups Gluten-free Fruit Snacks Variety Pack 10 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 |
|
Campbell Soup Company — Organic Apple Sauce + Berries
Apple, Strawberry, Blueberry, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico, Inc. (yachak) — Ultimate Mint Organic Yerba Mate, Ultimate Mint
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Caffeine
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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