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 263 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Organic Baked Cheddar Flavored Cheese Fries
Corn, Sunflower, Cow's Milk, Whey, Onion, Citric Acid, Garlic, Paprika
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills, Inc. — Berry Patch Organic Bunny Fruit Snacks, Berry Patch
Rice, Cane Sugar, Tapioca, Pear, Citric Acid, Sunflower, Carrot
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Wholesome Sweeteners, Inc. — Organic Chocolate Frosting
Cane Sugar, Tapioca, Cocoa, Sunflower, Citric Acid, Soybean, Vanilla
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Organic Vine-ripened Diced Tomatoes
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Onion, Citric Acid, Basil, Oregano
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Muir Glen Classic Marinara Organic Pasta Sauce
Tomato, Onion, Olive, Garlic, Basil, Citric Acid, Black Pepper, Oregano
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Organic 100% Juice, White Grape
Grape, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Mondelez International, Inc. — TROPICAL TWIST MEGA SUGAR FREE GUM WITH XYLITOL, TROPICAL TWIST
Malt, Aspartame, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — CAMPBELL'S WELL YES SOUP TOMATO
Tomato, Cow's Milk, Carrot, Wheat, Sweet Potato, Olive, Citric Acid, Black Pepper
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Muir Glen Organic Chunky Tomato Sauce
Tomato, Onion, Citric Acid, Garlic
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico, Inc. (yachak) — Berry Red Organic Yerba Mate, Berry Red
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Cranberry, Caffeine
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
GENERAL MILLS SALES INC. — Yoplait Light Strawberry Fat Free Yogurt
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Strawberry, Corn, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Carrageenan, FD&C Red #40
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Muir Glen Organic Pizza Sauce
Tomato, Olive, Onion, Citric Acid, Oregano, Basil, Black Pepper, Garlic
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Califia Farms, Lp — Coconut Almond Milk Blend
Almond, Coconut, Sunflower, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Organic Beef Jerky Peppered
Beef, Cane Sugar, Black Pepper, Soybean, Wheat, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — Organic Diced Tomatoes
Tomato, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
The J.m. Smucker Company — Strawberry Sugar Free Preserves, Strawberry
Strawberry, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills, Inc. — Organic Summer Strawberry Bunny Fruit Snacks, Summer Strawberry
Tapioca, Cane Sugar, Pear, Citric Acid, Sunflower, Carrot
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — Peach Mango Flavored Coconut Water Beverage, Peach Mango
Coconut, Citric Acid, Rosemary
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The J.m. Smucker Company — Blackberry Sugar Free Seedless Jam, Blackberry
Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Sugar Free Classic Caramel Flavoring Syrup
Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid
|
8 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Nestle USA Inc. — French Vanilla Plant Based Almond & Oat Non-dairy Creamer, French Vanilla
Almond, Oat, Cane Sugar, Soybean, Green Pea, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Oui By Yoplait Dairy Free Mango Coconut Dairy Alternative
Coconut, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Mango, Lemon
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — SALT AND VINEGAR KETTLE COOKED POTATO CHIPS, SALT AND VINEGAR
Potato, Corn, Sunflower, Safflower, Canola/Rapeseed, Citric Acid, Cow's Milk, Yeast (Baker's)
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Organic Nonfat Greek Yogurt
Yogurt, Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Vanilla, Coumarin/Vanillin, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Annie's Homegrown Organic Pink Lemonade Bunny Fruit Snacks
Tapioca, Cane Sugar, Pear, Citric Acid, Sunflower, Carrot
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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