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 275 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Cadia, Organic Diced Tomatoes in Tomato Juice
Tomato, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Organic Salsa, Mild
Tomato, Citric Acid, Chili Pepper, Capsaicin, Onion, Cane Sugar, Garlic
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dairy Free Plant-based Mozzarella Style Slices Cheese
Coconut, Potato, Corn, Citric Acid, Carrageenan
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Muir Glen Cabernet Marinara Organic Pasta Sauce
Tomato, Grape, Onion, Olive, Garlic, Basil, Citric Acid, Black Pepper
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — 365 Everyday Value, Organic Lentil Soup
Lentil, Carrot, Celery, Tomato, Corn, Spinach, Onion, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Human Kind — Organic Jasmine Lime Green Tea
Lime, Cane Sugar, Tea, Citric Acid, Lemon
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — Fruit Punch Organic Juice Drink Blend From Concentrate, Fruit Punch
Apple, Grape, Citric Acid, Orange
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Organic Original Recipe Hummus
Sesame, Olive, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Black Pepper, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dairy Free Plant-based Mozzarella Style Shreds Cheese
Coconut, Potato, Oat, Corn, Citric Acid, Carrageenan
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company — Organic Juice Drink, Twisted Tropical Tango
Apple, Grape, Orange, Mango, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — STRAWBERRY YOGURT SMOOTHIE, STRAWBERRY
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Strawberry, Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Whey
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Lipton — Plant Butter with Avocado Oil 79% Plant-based Oil Spread, Avocado Oil
Canola/Rapeseed, Avocado, Green Pea, Sunflower, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Organic Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce
Tomato, Citric Acid, Cane Sugar, Soybean, Olive, Onion, Basil, Garlic
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — TWIZZLERS, BITES CANDY, STRAWBERRY, STRAWBERRY
Corn, Wheat, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Glycerin/Glycerol
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
PepsiCo, Inc. (BFY Brands) — SWEET CHILI CORN SNACK, SWEET CHILI
Corn, Sunflower, Cane Sugar, Onion, Garlic, Paprika, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — RANCH DIP SEASONING MIX, RANCH
Corn, Onion, Garlic, Black Pepper, Parsley, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid, Yeast (Baker's)
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — V8 +ENERGY Orange Pineapple Energy Drink, 8 FL OZ Can (Pack of 6)
Sweet Potato, Carrot, Apple, Orange, Pineapple, Citric Acid, Caffeine, Tea
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — SWEET WATERMELON FRUIT SENSATIONS SUGARFREE GUM, SWEET WATERMELON
Glycerin/Glycerol, Aspartame, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #6, Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
MTN DEW ORIGINAL BAJA BLAST SODA, 8 COUNT, 16 FL OZ
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, Cane Sugar, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Kellogg Company — MIXED BERRY ASSORTED FRUIT FLAVORED SNACKS, MIXED BERRY
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, Coconut, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — ORIGINAL TROPICAL LIME SODA, ORIGINAL TROPICAL LIME
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, Cane Sugar, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Starbucks Coffee Company — Sugar-free Syrup
Corn, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico, Inc. (rockstar) — Grapefruit Flavor Silver Ice Sugar Free Energy Drink, Grapefruit
Citric Acid, Caffeine, Benzoic Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — Pacific Foods Organic Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Soup, 32 Oz Carton (6 Pack)
Cow's Milk, Tomato, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Citric Acid, Rice, Onion
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — MULLER FRUTUP LEMON 5.3Z
Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Lemon, Whey, Citric Acid, Orange, Turmeric, Glycerin/Glycerol
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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