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 278 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — MACARONI & CHEESE MICROWAVEABLE DINNER, MACARONI & CHEESE
Wheat, Cow's Milk, Whey, Corn, Tapioca, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — CRYSTAL LIGHT, DRINK MIX, PEACH ICED TEA, PEACH ICED TEA
Citric Acid, Tea, Caffeine, Corn, Aspartame, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — ICED TEA, MANGO
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Tea, Benzoic Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Frito-Lay Company — KETTLE COOKED SEA SALT & VINEGAR FLAVORED POTATO CHIPS, SEA SALT & VINEGAR
Potato, Corn, Canola/Rapeseed, Sunflower, Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Organic Tomato Sauce
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Chili Pepper, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hershey Mexico, S.A. De C.V. — TAMARIND SOFT CANDY, TAMARINDO ORIGINAL
Cane Sugar, Corn, Chili Pepper, Capsaicin, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Grillo's Pickles Gluten Free Classic Dill Pickle Potato Chips
Potato, Corn, Sunflower, Garlic, Cane Sugar, Onion, Citric Acid, Yeast (Baker's), Dill, Turmeric
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Annie's Organic Bunnies & Bats Berry Patch Fruit Flavored Snacks 22 Count
Rice, Cane Sugar, Tapioca, Pear, Citric Acid, Sunflower, Carrot
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — Campbell's Signature Frozen Condensed Healthy Request Harvest Tomato with Basil Soup, 4 Pound Trays, 3-Pack
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Cow's Milk, Wheat, Citric Acid, Basil, Celery, Garlic
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — MILK CHOCOLATE & PEANUT BUTTER LOVE CUPS, MILK CHOCOLATE & PEANUT BUTTER
Cane Sugar, Cow's Milk, Cocoa, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Peanut, Corn, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Muir Glen Organic Tomato Sauce
Tomato, Onion, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — 365 Everyday Value, Organic Conserve, Blackberry
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Clif Bar and Company — Wild Blueberry Almond Organic Trail Mix Bars, Wild Blueberry Almond
Almond, Grape, Tapioca, Cashew, Rice, Blueberry, Soybean, Cane Sugar, Sunflower, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hershey Foods Corporation (U.S.) — REESES MILK CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER CUP KING SIZE BAR
Peanut, Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Cocoa, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Corn, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Organic Tomato & Herb Pasta Sauce
Tomato, Citric Acid, Soybean, Cane Sugar, Onion, Olive, Garlic
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company — Organic Tea, Raspberry
Tea, Cane Sugar, Raspberry, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Organic Wild Blueberry Spread
Grape, Blueberry, Apple, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Tropical Punch Organic Energy Drink, Tropical Punch
Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, Tea, Turmeric
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Tropicana Twister Strawberry Kiwi Cyclone Juice Beverage 96 Fluid Ounce Plastic Bottle
Corn, Fructose, Apple, Grape, Strawberry, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Cadia, Organic Sparkling Italian Soda, Blood Orange
Orange, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Carrot
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Newman's Own, Inc. — TOMATO & BASIL PASTA SAUCE, TOMATO & BASIL
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Soybean, Olive, Onion, Basil, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Mott's Gluten-free Assorted Fruit Snacks Family Size 40 Count
Corn, Cane Sugar, Pear, Apple, Carrot, Citric Acid, Sunflower
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Yoplait Parfaitpro Gluten Free Yogurt Bulk Bag Low Fat Strawberry 6/64 Oz
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Annie's Organic All Stars Canned Pasta
Wheat, Tomato, Cane Sugar, Corn, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid, Onion, Paprika, Garlic
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Clif Bar and Company — Organic Trail Mix Bar
Almond, Cranberry, Cane Sugar, Tapioca, Rice, Soybean, Sunflower, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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