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 264 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Campbell Soup Company — Plum, Mashups, Organic Apple Sauce + Tropical Fruits, Tropical!, Tropical!
Apple, Banana, Mango, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Foods-Snack Foods Group — PREMIUM SMOKE STICKS, MEMPHIS STYLE BBQ SEASONED
Beef, Pork, Chicken, Soybean, Corn, Cane Sugar, Paprika, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Cedar's Mediterranean Foods, Inc. — Original Hommus Organic Singles, Original
Sesame, Sunflower, Olive, Garlic, Citric Acid, Cumin
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Aulterra International, Inc. — ROASTED TOMATO SALSA
Tomato, Chili Pepper, Capsaicin, Onion, Garlic, Lime, Coriander/Cilantro, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — SPOOKY SHAPES GUMMIES CANDY, CHERRY, WATERMELON, GREEN APPLE, STRAWBERRY, ORANGE
Corn, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Sunflower, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — ORIGINAL CHERRY, ORANGE, STRAWBERRY & LEMON FRUIT FLAVORED CANDY CORN, ORIGINAL
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 |
|
Califia Farms, Lp — Cookie Butter Flavored Dairy Free Almondmilk Creamer, Cookie Butter
Almond, Cane Sugar, Sunflower, Cinnamon, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The J.m. Smucker Company — Strawberry Sugar Free Jam, Strawberry
Strawberry, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Trader Joe's, Organic Tomatillo & Roasted Yellow Chili Salsa
Tomato, Chili Pepper, Onion, Coriander/Cilantro, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Victoria's Kitchen Llc — Almond Water
Cane Sugar, Almond, Coconut, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — V-FUSION VEGETABLE & FRUIT JUICE BEVERAGE, BLACK CHERRY BERRY
Sweet Potato, Carrot, Apple, Grape, Raspberry, Blueberry, Cherry, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico, Inc. (cytosport) — Organic Protein Shake, Chocolate
Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Cocoa, Canola/Rapeseed, Sunflower, Citric Acid, Carrageenan
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
FRUIT QUAKE SODA
Benzoic Acid, Blue #1, Caffeine, Citric Acid, Corn, FD&C Red #40, Fructose, Glycerin/Glycerol
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kellogg Company Us — Pure Organic Pure Layered Fruit Bars Strawberry Banana .63oz
Apple, Banana, Strawberry, Lemon, Carrot, Cabbage, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-van Camp — Strawberry Organic Thirst Quencher Powder, Strawberry
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Strawberry, Rice
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Califia Farms, Lp — Pure Unsweetened Almondmilk
Almond, Sunflower, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Organic Melon Peach Italian Soda, Melon Peach
Cane Sugar, Peach, Lemon, Carrot, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Sugar Free Peach Preserves
Peach, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Bj's Wholesale Club / Corporate Brands — Cherry Limeade Organic Drink Blend From Concentrate, Cherry Limeade
Cane Sugar, Lime, Cherry, Citric Acid, Lemon
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Beyond Meat, Inc. — Brat Original Beyond Sausage Plant-based Links, Brat Original
Green Pea, Coconut, Sunflower, Rice, Potato, Apple, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Wholesome Sweeteners, Inc. — Wholesome!, Organic Frosting, Wild White Strawberry
Cane Sugar, Tapioca, Corn, Strawberry, Sunflower, Citric Acid, Soybean
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Organic Vine - Ripened Stewed Tomatoes
Tomato, Solanine, Cane Sugar, Onion, Capsaicin, Celery, Citric Acid, Garlic
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Muir Glen Italian Herb Organic Pasta Sauce
Tomato, Onion, Olive, Garlic, Basil, Citric Acid, Oregano, Black Pepper, Thyme
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Good & Gather — Fruit Punch Flavored Organic Juice Drink From Concentrate Pouches, Fruit Punch
Apple, Cherry, Raspberry, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Organic Shells and White Cheddar Sauce Dinner
Wheat, Cow's Milk, Whey, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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