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 273 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Blueberry Lemonade Flavored Organic Juice Beverage From Concentrate, Blueberry Lemonade
Cane Sugar, Lemon, Citric Acid, Blueberry
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
GENERAL MILLS SALES INC. — Fruit Roll-Ups Tropical Tie-Dye 10 Count
Corn, Cane Sugar, Pear, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Whole Foods Market, Organic Challah Bread
Wheat, Cane Sugar, Canola/Rapeseed, Egg White, Egg Yolk, Citric Acid, Honey, Yeast (Baker's)
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Victoria Fine Foods Llc — Organic Sauce
Tomato, Cauliflower, Onion, Cow's Milk, Olive, Garlic, Basil, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Sugar Free Low Calorie Drink Mix, Fruit Punch
Citric Acid, Aspartame, FD&C Red #40, Corn, Cane Sugar, Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — V8, SPLASH, BEVERAGE, MANGO PEACH, MANGO PEACH
Fructose, Corn, Sweet Potato, Carrot, Apple, Peach, Mango, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — PULL 'N' PEEL CANDY, CHERRY COLA
Corn, Wheat, Cane Sugar, Glycerin/Glycerol, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1, FD&C Yellow #5
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — BAR-B-Q FLAVORED FRIED PORK SKINS CHICHARRONES, BAR-B-Q
Pork, Cane Sugar, Yeast (Baker's), MSG, Onion, Garlic, Paprika, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — MERRY MASH-UP CRANBERRY POMEGRANATE SODA, MERRY MASH-UP
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1, Glycerin/Glycerol
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — BAJA PUNCH SODA WITH A BLAST OF TROPICAL PUNCH, BAJA PUNCH
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Good Humor-Breyers Ice Cream — ICE POPS
Cane Sugar, Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Foods-Snack Foods Group — SLIM JIM, BEEF JERKY, TABASCO SPICED, TABASCO SPICED
Beef, Cane Sugar, Wheat, Soybean, Chili Pepper, Corn, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — PULL 'N' PEEL CANDY, RASPBERRY WILD BERRY LEMONADE
Corn, Wheat, Cane Sugar, Glycerin/Glycerol, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1, FD&C Yellow #5
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Sugar Free White Freeze Flavor Sports Drink
Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc — Log Cabin Sugar Free Syrup, 12 Fl Oz.
Aspartame, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Muir Glen Organic Crushed Tomatoes with Basil
Tomato, Citric Acid, Basil
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — 365 Everyday Value, Organic Tomato Sauce
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Chili Pepper, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Cadia, Organic Crushed Tomatoes with Basil
Tomato, Basil, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
PepsiCo, Inc. (CytoSport) — ALMOND CHERRY FLAVORED PLANT-BASED PROTEIN BAR, ALMOND CHERRY
Almond, Cane Sugar, Cherry, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, Green Pea, Rice, Sunflower
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — ORIGINAL STRAWBERRY, CHERRY, FRUIT PUNCH & WATERMELON FRUIT CHEWS, ORIGINAL
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Tapioca, Apple, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1, Fructose
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Amy's Kitchen Inc. — Chunky Roasted Garlic Organic Pasta Sauce, Chunky Roasted Garlic
Tomato, Onion, Olive, Basil, Garlic, Black Pepper, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Barbecue Organic Potato Chips, Barbecue
Potato, Tapioca, Tomato, Paprika, Onion, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
STRAWBERRY WHEELS CANDY
Wheat, Cane Sugar, Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — 365 Everyday Value, Organic Mediterranean Olives
Olive, Grape, Oregano, Bay Leaf, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Humankind — Organic Strawberry Lemonade
Cane Sugar, Lemon, Strawberry, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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