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 265 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
The Hershey Company — LOW FAT SNACKS, STRAWBERRY
Corn, Wheat, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Glycerin/Glycerol
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — BAJA BLAST TROPICAL LIME FLAVOR SODA, BAJA BLAST
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, Cane Sugar, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
BJ's Wholesale Club / Corporate Brands — CHERRY, ORANGE, GRAPE FLAVORED FRUITY SNACKS, CHERRY, ORANGE, GRAPE
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, Coconut, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Muir Glen Organic San Marzano Style Whole Peeled Tomatoes
Tomato, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Organic Garlic Stuffed Olives
Olive, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Organic Beef Jerky, Teriyaki
Beef, Cane Sugar, Soybean, Wheat, Ginger, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills, Inc. — ORGANIC WHOLE MILK YOGURT, SUMMER STRAWBERRY, BERRY PATCH
Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Strawberry, Raspberry, Blueberry, Tapioca, Citric Acid, Yogurt
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — STRAWBERRY TWISTS, STRAWBERRY
Corn, Wheat, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Glycerin/Glycerol
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The J.M. Smucker Company — CLASSIC ORIGINAL MINCEMEAT WITH RAISINS & APPLES, CLASSIC ORIGINAL
Apple, Grape, Corn, Cane Sugar, Orange, Lemon, Beef, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc — Snack Pack Sugar-free Strawberry Flavored Low Calorie Juicy Gels, 3.25 Oz. 4-count
Apple, Carrageenan, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — Campbell's Signature Frozen Ready to Eat Reduced Sodium Tomato Basil Soup, 4 Pound Pouches, 4-Pack
Tomato, Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Wheat, Onion, Garlic, Basil, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CHARMS SWEET POPS, 9 OZ
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, Turmeric
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
DINER'S CHOICE MASHED SWEET POTATOES, 24 OZ
Sweet Potato, Cane Sugar, Soybean, Whey, Cow's Milk, Lecithin (Soy), Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — 2% SMALL CURD LOWFAT COTTAGE CHEESE
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cottage Cheese, Whey, Corn, Citric Acid, Carrageenan, Carob
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Smoky & Spicy Plant-based Burgers
Soybean, Canola/Rapeseed, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Yeast (Baker's), Onion, Coriander/Cilantro, Citric Acid, Wheat
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — SLOPPY JOE SAUCE, CLASSIC RECIPE
Tomato, Fructose, Corn, Onion, Chili Pepper, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — Sugar Free Syrup, Sugar Free
Aspartame, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — Watermelon Lemonade Flavored Coconut Water Beverage, Watermelon Lemonade
Coconut, Citric Acid, Rosemary
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Cedar's Mediterranean Foods, Inc. — Roasted Red Pepper Hommus Organic Singles, Roasted Red Pepper Hommus
Sunflower, Olive, Sesame, Citric Acid, Garlic, Paprika, Cumin
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Oui By Yoplait Dairy Free Raspberry, Coconut Dairy Alternative
Coconut, Cane Sugar, Raspberry, Carrot, Lemon, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Organic American Pasteurized Process Cheese Product
Cow's Milk, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Organic Nonfat Greek Yogurt
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Mango, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — Organic Apple Sauce + Fruit & Veggie
Apple, Carrot, Mango, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — SODA, CITRUS CHERRY
Fructose, Corn, Orange, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Organic Yukon Select with a Touch of Sea Salt Fries
Potato, Canola/Rapeseed, Sunflower, Safflower, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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