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 267 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Pepsico Inc. — Tropicana Twister Strawberry Kiwi Cyclone Flavored Juice 20 Fluid Ounce Plastic Bottle
Corn, Fructose, Apple, Grape, Strawberry, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Post Consumer Brands, LLC — CEREALS, BERRY
Corn, Cane Sugar, Oat, Coconut, Canola/Rapeseed, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — MILK CHOCOLATE & PEANUT BUTTER HEART, MILK CHOCOLATE & PEANUT BUTTER
Peanut, Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Cocoa, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Corn, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
REESE'S MILK CHOCOLATE & PEANUT BUTTER CUPS, 2 COUNT, 1.5 OZ
Peanut, Cane Sugar, Cocoa, Cow's Milk, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Corn, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
SKI — ORIGINAL LEMON ORANGE AUTHENTIC CITRUS SODA
Fructose, Corn, Lemon, Orange, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, FD&C Yellow #5
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — MACARONI & CHEESE DINNER, CHEDDAR
Wheat, Whey, Corn, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico, Inc. (cytosport) — Muscle Milk, Organic Non Dairy Protein Shake, Vanilla, Vanilla
Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Canola/Rapeseed, Sunflower, Citric Acid, Carrageenan
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
GENERAL MILLS SALES INC. — Yoplait Light Red Raspberry Fat Free Yogurt
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Corn, Raspberry, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Muir Glen Organic Tomato Sauce, No Salt Added
Tomato, Onion, Citric Acid, Garlic
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Organic Red Pepper Stuffed Olives
Olive, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Wholesome Sweeteners, Inc. — Lemon, Strawberry & Watermelon Organic Lollipops, Lemon, Strawberry & Watermelon
Cane Sugar, Tapioca, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Lemonade Sugar Free Low Calorie Drink Mix, Lemonade
Citric Acid, Aspartame, Cane Sugar, Lemon, FD&C Yellow #5
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods, LLC — ENERGIZE MIXED FRUIT IN FRUIT JUICE WITH GREEN EXTRACT, MIXED FRUIT
Grape, Pineapple, Peach, Pear, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Tea, Caffeine
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — Cherry Limeade Sugar Free Mints, Cherry Limeade
Corn, Citric Acid, Soybean, Aspartame, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Cedar's Mediterranean Foods, Inc. — Roasted Red Pepper Organic Hommus, Roasted Red Pepper
Sunflower, Olive, Sesame, Citric Acid, Garlic, Paprika, Cumin
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Oui By Yoplait Dairy Free Vanilla Coconut Dairy Alternative
Coconut, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Vanilla, Coumarin/Vanillin
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Whole Foods Market, Organic Nonfat Greek Yogurt, Strawberry & Banana
Yogurt, Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Strawberry, Banana, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — Plum Kids, Shredz, Organic Real Fruit Snacks, Berry 'licious, Berry 'licious
Apple, Cherry, Blueberry, Raspberry, Strawberry, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — Orange Sugar Free Low Calorie Gelatin Snacks, Orange
Citric Acid, Aspartame, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Sugar Free Syrup, Sugar Free
Citric Acid, Maple Sugar, Benzoic Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — GARDEN CHUNKY TOMATO, ONION & GARLIC ITALIAN SAUCE, GARDEN CHUNKY TOMATO, ONION & GARLIC
Tomato, Onion, Garlic, Cane Sugar, Canola/Rapeseed, Citric Acid, Basil, Oregano
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Monster Energy Company — Hubert's, Organic Pink Lemonade
Cane Sugar, Lemon, Citric Acid, Strawberry
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Organic Naturally Flavored Italian Soda
Orange, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Ginger
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Lipton — Plant Butter with Almond Oil 79% Plant-based Oil Spread, Almond Oil
Almond, Canola/Rapeseed, Green Pea, Sunflower, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Organic Aai Energy with Yerba Mate & Guaran Super Food Juice Blend
Apple, Cane Sugar, Lime, Citric Acid, Sunflower, Tea, Caffeine
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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