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 269 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Pepsico, Inc. (cytosport) — Vanilla Organic Non Dairy Protein Shake, Vanilla
Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Corn, Canola/Rapeseed, Sunflower, Citric Acid, Carrageenan
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez International, Inc. — Blue Raspberry Extreme Sugar Free Gum, Blue Raspberry
Glycerin/Glycerol, Aspartame, Blue #1, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — V8 +hydrate Plant-based Hydrating Beverage, Orange Grapefruit, 8 Oz. Can (pack of 6)
Sweet Potato, Citric Acid, Orange
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Califia Farms, Lp — Gluten Free Unsweetened Oat Creamer, Unsweetened
Oat, Sunflower, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Monster Energy Company — Hubert's Lemonade, Organic Lemonade
Cane Sugar, Lemon, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Wholesome — Organic Spooky Shapes Treat
Pear, Tapioca, Cane Sugar, Lemon, Carrot, Citric Acid, Sunflower
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Organic Medium Salsa
Tomato, Citric Acid, Chili Pepper, Onion, Cane Sugar, Garlic
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — THE DARK KNIGHT SERIES SODA, DARK BERRY
Fructose, Corn, Orange, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, Blue #1, FD&C Red #40
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills, Inc. — FRUIT ROLL-UPS MINI ROLLS, SCREAMIN' STRAWBERRY TATTOOS
Corn, Cane Sugar, Pear, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Sparkling Organic Cola
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Post Consumer Brands, LLC — BAKED ORIGINAL CHEESE PUFFS, ORIGINAL
Corn, Canola/Rapeseed, Sunflower, Whey, Cow's Milk, MSG, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #6
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Cedar's Mediterranean Foods, Inc. — ORGANIC BALSAMIC CARAMELIZED ONION HOMMUS WITH TOPPINGS
Sesame, Grape, Onion, Cane Sugar, Sunflower, Garlic, Citric Acid, Cumin
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
GOOD & GATHER — MILD SWEET ONION SALSA, MILD
Tomato, Citric Acid, Onion, Chili Pepper, Cane Sugar, Coriander/Cilantro, Garlic, Lime
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
PEPSICO, INC — CLEMENTINE BURSTS FRUIT SNACKS, CLEMENTINE BURSTS
Apple, Pear, Corn, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — NON FAT YOGURT, LIGHT CHERRY VANILLA
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cherry, Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Vanilla
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Organic Stewed Vine-ripened Tomatoes
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Onion, Celery, Citric Acid, Garlic
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez International, Inc. — Sour Patch Kids, Stride, Sugar Free Gum, Watermelon, Watermelon
Glycerin/Glycerol, Aspartame, Blue #1, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, FD&C Yellow #5
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Califia Farms, Lp — Go Coconuts Coconut Milk & Coconut Water Blend
Coconut, Sunflower, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — OH - SO - RIGHT RED VELVET CAKE NOT-SO-TRADITIONAL BLENDED GREEK YOGURT
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Fructose, Cocoa, Citric Acid, Blue #1, FD&C Red #40
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Carrot & Orange with Turmeric Flavored Organic Immune Refresher Juice Blend From Concentrate, Carrot & Orange with Turmeric
Carrot, Orange, Apple, Turmeric, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Organic Marinara Sauce
Tomato, Citric Acid, Olive, Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Onion
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Tribe Mediterranean Foods, Inc. — Tribe, Gluten-free Hummus, Zesty Spice & Garlic
Canola/Rapeseed, Sesame, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — Pacific Foods Organic Tomato Bisque
Tomato, Citric Acid, Cow's Milk, Corn, Cane Sugar, Rice, Garlic
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pure Premium Natural Mango Flavored Aloe Drink
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Mango, Cabbage, Honey
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — Pacific Foods Organic Garden Tomato Oat Milk Soup, 32 Oz Carton
Carrot, Oat, Tomato, Citric Acid, Zucchini, Onion, Cashew, Garlic, Rice, Sunflower, Coconut, Sesame
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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