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 268 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Muir Glen Organic Italian Herb Pasta Sauce with No Sugar Added
Tomato, Onion, Olive, Garlic, Basil, Citric Acid, Oregano, Black Pepper, Thyme
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez International, Inc. — Bubblegum Sugar Free Gum, Bubblegum
Glycerin/Glycerol, Aspartame, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Lay's Kettle Cooked Sea Salt & Vinegar Flavored Potato Chips 8.5 Ounce Plastic Bags
Potato, Corn, Canola/Rapeseed, Sunflower, Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Near East Roasted Red Pepper & Basil Quinoa Blend 4.9 Ounce Box
Quinoa, Solanine, Basil, Garlic, Onion, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid, Sunflower
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Post Consumer Brands, LLC — CRUNCH' TASTIC CEREAL, BERRY
Corn, Cane Sugar, Oat, Coconut, Canola/Rapeseed, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Russ Davis Wholesale — MILD LARGE GUACAMOLE BLENDER, MILD
Avocado, Tomato, Onion, Chili Pepper, Coriander/Cilantro, Garlic, Lime, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
P — TACO SEASONING MIX
Chili Pepper, Paprika, Onion, Garlic, Corn, Potato, Citric Acid, Cane Sugar
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — TOMATO, GARLIC & BASIL MARINADE MIX, TOMATO, GARLIC & BASIL
Cane Sugar, Tomato, Garlic, Basil, Onion, Corn, Citric Acid, Paprika
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Frito-Lay Company — LAY'S, KETTLE COOKED 40% LESS FAT, SEA SALT & VINEGAR, SEA SALT & VINEGAR
Potato, Corn, Canola/Rapeseed, Sunflower, Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Good Humor-breyers Ice Cream — Orange, Cherry, Grape Flavored Sugar Free Ice Pops, Orange, Cherry, Grape
Glycerin/Glycerol, Corn, Citric Acid, Beet, Aspartame, Grape, Turmeric, Cherry
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Beyond Meat, Inc. — Hot Italian Beyond Sausage Plant-based Links, Hot Italian
Green Pea, Coconut, Sunflower, Rice, Potato, Apple, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Okf Aloe Vera King Aloe Drink, 50.7 Fl Oz
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Grape, Honey
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Annie's Organic Berry Patch Bunny Fruit Snacks
Tapioca, Cane Sugar, Pear, Citric Acid, Carrot, Sunflower
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Clif Bar and Company — Clif, Organic Energy Food, Banana Beet with Ginger
Banana, Beet, Citric Acid, Ginger
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Organic Raspberry Lemonade
Cane Sugar, Raspberry, Lemon, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dairy Free Pumpkin Spice Almond Creamer
Almond, Cane Sugar, Sunflower, Green Pea, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Muir Glen Organic Diced Tomatoes San Marzano Style with Basil and Garlic
Tomato, Citric Acid, Basil, Garlic
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Contadina, Organic Roma Style Tomato Sauce, Sea Salt
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The J.m. Smucker Company — Sugar Free Cherry Preserves
Cherry, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — BUBBLE BLAST BUBBLE GUM, BUBBLE BLAST
Cane Sugar, Corn, Glycerin/Glycerol, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Citric Acid, Aspartame, FD&C Red #40
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Cedar's Mediterranean Foods, Inc. — Garlic Organic Hommus, Garlic
Sesame, Sunflower, Olive, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — 365 Everyday Value, Organic Honey Graham Crackers
Wheat, Cane Sugar, Safflower, Honey, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Foods-Snack Foods Group — DAVID, JUMBO SUNFLOWER SEEDS, CRACKED PEPPER, CRACKED PEPPER
Sunflower, Soybean, Cane Sugar, Onion, Black Pepper, Yeast (Baker's), Garlic, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — Organic Apple Sauce + Fruit & Veggie, Blueberry Blitz!
Apple, Blueberry, Carrot, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — V8, 100% VEGETABLE JUICE, ORIGINAL, ORIGINAL
Tomato, Carrot, Celery, Beet, Parsley, Lettuce, Spinach, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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