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 270 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
The Minute Maid Company — LIGHT LEMONADE WITH RASPBERRY JUICE BLEND, LIGHT LEMONADE WITH RASPBERRY
Lemon, Raspberry, Citric Acid, Aspartame, Corn, Glycerin/Glycerol, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Clif Bar and Company — Clif, Organic Energy Food, Banana Mango with Coconut
Banana, Mango, Coconut, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Yoplait Original Strawberry Banana Gluten-free Low-fat Yogurt Tub
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Organic Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes
Tomato, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — LEMON & PEPPER SEASONING, LEMON & PEPPER
Black Pepper, Citric Acid, Onion, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Celery, Lemon, FD&C Yellow #5
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Organic Olive Tapenade
Olive, Tyramine, Sunflower, Chili Pepper, Solanine, Garlic, Grape, Oregano, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Muir Glen Tomato Basil Organic Pasta Sauce
Tomato, Olive, Onion, Carrot, Basil, Garlic, Citric Acid, Black Pepper, Oregano
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The J.m. Smucker Company — Orange Sugar Free Marmalade, Orange
Orange, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc — David Roasted and Salted Sweet and Spicy Jumbo Sunflower Seeds, Keto Friendly Snack, 5.25 Oz. Bag
Sunflower, Canola/Rapeseed, Chili Pepper, Corn, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid, Paprika
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — 365 Everyday Value, Organic Cinnamon Graham Crackers
Wheat, Cane Sugar, Safflower, Honey, Cinnamon, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Tropicana Farmstand 100% Fruit & Vegetable Juice Peach Mango Flavor 46 Fluid Ounce Plastic Bottle
Sweet Potato, Grape, Apple, Orange, Carrot, Peach, Mango, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Post Consumer Brands, LLC — SWEETENED CORN AND OAT CEREAL, BERRY
Corn, Cane Sugar, Oat, Coconut, Canola/Rapeseed, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
J & B Wholesale Distributing Inc. — HONEY BBQ CHICKEN BREAST, HONEY BBQ
Chicken, Honey, Cane Sugar, Tomato, Onion, Garlic, Paprika, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hillshire Brands Company — SPINACH & EGG WHITE PLANT-BASED PATTY & FRITTATA SANDWICH, SPINACH & EGG WHITE
Egg White, Wheat, Soybean, Spinach, Cane Sugar, Corn, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle USA Inc. — BLUEBERRY PEAR FRUIT & YOGURT SMOOTHIES, BLUEBERRY PEAR
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Whey, Cane Sugar, Blueberry, Pear, Tapioca, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — MIXED BERRY APPLESAUCE, MIXED BERRY
Apple, Fructose, Corn, Strawberry, Raspberry, Blueberry, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — MILD GREEN ENCHILADA SAUCE, MILD GREEN ENCHILADA
Chili Pepper, Corn, Soybean, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Onion, Citric Acid, Yeast (Baker's)
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
P. K. Kinder Co., Inc. — RANCH DIPS AND SEASONING MIX, RANCH
Corn, Garlic, Onion, Black Pepper, Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
GENERAL MILLS SALES INC. — Old El Paso Thick 'N Chunky Medium Salsa
Tomato, Onion, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Coriander/Cilantro, Citric Acid, Lemon, Solanine
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company — Organic Juice Drink From Concentrate, Cherry Go Round
Apple, Grape, Cherry, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez International, Inc. — Watermelon Sugar Free Gum, Watermelon
Glycerin/Glycerol, Aspartame, Blue #1, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, FD&C Yellow #5
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Organic Super Berry Spread
Blueberry, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Organic Italian Soda
Grapefruit, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Carrot
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Lipton — Plant Butter with Olive Oil 79% Plant-based Oil Spread, Plant Butter
Canola/Rapeseed, Olive, Green Pea, Sunflower, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
WELCH'S — WELCH'S 10 FL OZ JUICE DRINK - STRAWBERRY KIWI
Fructose, Corn, Grape, Apple, Strawberry, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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