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 277 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Dairy Free Plant-based Cheddar Style Shreds Cheese
Coconut, Potato, Corn, Oat, Carrageenan, Citric Acid, Yeast (Baker's)
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Cadia, Organic Diced Tomatoes
Tomato, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Organic Mango Habanero
Cane Sugar, Orange, Mango, Garlic, Onion, Citric Acid, Lemon, Paprika, Lime, Chili Pepper, Rice
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Starbucks Coffee Company — Vanilla Flavored Sugar-free Syrup, Vanilla
Citric Acid, Corn
|
8 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — RED ENCHILADA SAUCE, MEDIUM
Tomato, Corn, Cane Sugar, Chili Pepper, Capsaicin, Citric Acid, Garlic, Onion
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Starbucks Coffee Company — Sugar-free Flavored Syrup
Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid
|
8 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Annie's Organic Bees Bugs & Butterflies Fruit Snacks 10 Count
Rice, Cane Sugar, Tapioca, Pear, Honey, Citric Acid, Sunflower, Carrot
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company — Organic Zero Calorie Soda, Lemon Limey
Lemon, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Yoplait Whips! Key Lime Pie Gluten-free Low-fat Yogurt Mousse Cup
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez International, Inc. — Tropical Twist Mega Sugar Free Gum with Xylitol, Tropical Twist
Malt, Aspartame, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — POMEGRANATE GREEN TEA DRINK MIX, POMEGRANATE GREEN TEA
Citric Acid, Corn, Aspartame, Tea, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Organic Roasted Garlic Hummus, Roasted Garlic
Sesame, Garlic, Canola/Rapeseed, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — BEVERAGE, MANGO PEACH
Sweet Potato, Carrot, Grape, Apple, Peach, Orange, Mango, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — V8 Original 100% Vegetable Juice, 46 FL OZ Bottle (Pack of 12)
Tomato, Carrot, Celery, Beet, Parsley, Lettuce, Spinach, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Bj's Wholesale Club / Corporate Brands — Strawberry Lemonade Flavored Organic Drink Blend, Strawberry Lemonade
Cane Sugar, Lemon, Citric Acid, Strawberry
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Black Pepper & Sea Salt Organic Potato Chips, Black Pepper & Sea Salt
Potato, Sunflower, Safflower, Canola/Rapeseed, Corn, Black Pepper, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Clif Bar Family Winery & Farm Llc — Maple Curried Cashews & Peanuts Organic Savory Nut Mix, Maple Curried Cashews & Peanuts
Peanut, Cashew, Canola/Rapeseed, Cane Sugar, Maple Sugar, Coconut, Chili Pepper, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Tribe Mediterranean Foods, Inc. — Organic Classic Hummus, Classic
Canola/Rapeseed, Sesame, Citric Acid, Garlic
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — SODA, DARK BERRY
Fructose, Corn, Orange, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, Blue #1, FD&C Red #40
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Coca-Cola USA Operations — MELLO YELLO, SODA, CITRUS, CITRUS
Fructose, Corn, Orange, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, FD&C Yellow #5, Glycerin/Glycerol
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Banana, Apple, Blueberry, Strawberry, Beet & Acai Organic Superfood Fruit & Veggie Snack, Banana, Apple, Blueberry, Strawberry, Beet & Acai
Banana, Apple, Blueberry, Strawberry, Beet, Lemon, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — ROASTED GARLIC & HERB BAKED PITA CHIPS, ROASTED GARLIC & HERB
Wheat, Sunflower, Garlic, Corn, Cane Sugar, Yeast (Baker's), Onion, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — PORK AND BEANS IN TOMATO SAUCE, TOMATO SAUCE
Navy Bean, Cane Sugar, Tomato, Pork, Corn, Onion, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — V8 Original 100% Vegetable Juice, 5.5 FL OZ Can (8 Packs of 6 Cans)
Tomato, Carrot, Celery, Beet, Parsley, Lettuce, Spinach, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — PINEAPPLE COLA, PINEAPPLE
Fructose, Corn, Pineapple, Citric Acid, Caffeine, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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