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 280 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — SEASONING SALT, LEMON & PEPPER
Citric Acid, Black Pepper, Onion, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Corn, Lemon, FD&C Yellow #5
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Organic 100% Juice
Apple, Cranberry, Mango, Carrot, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hk Humankind — Organic Peach Tea
Cane Sugar, Tea, Citric Acid, Peach
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — V8 Juice, Original 100% Vegetable Juice, Plant-based Drink, 46 Ounce Can
Tomato, Carrot, Celery, Beet, Parsley, Lettuce, Spinach, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — VEGETABLE 100% JUICE FROM CONCENTRATE, VEGETABLE
Tomato, Carrot, Celery, Beet, Parsley, Lettuce, Spinach, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — LITE BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE DRESSING, LITE
Grape, Soybean, Canola/Rapeseed, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Capsaicin, Onion, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Peach Tea Sugar Free Drink Mix, Peach Tea
Citric Acid, Tea, Aspartame, Sodium Metabisulfite, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Organic Seedless Raspberry Premium Spread
Raspberry, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Organic Super Fruit Sparkling Energy Drink
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Tea, Caffeine
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Cadia, Organic Sparkling Italian Soda, Pomegranate
Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, Carrot
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
P. K. Kinder Co., Inc. — THE TACO BLEND WITH LIME & ANCHO CHILI SEASONING, TACO
Chili Pepper, Garlic, Onion, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Rice, Sunflower, Lime
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — V8 Original 100% Vegetable Juice, 11.5 FL OZ Can (Pack of 24)
Tomato, Carrot, Celery, Beet, Parsley, Lettuce, Spinach, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — CHIPOTLE PINTO BEANS
Pinto Bean, Chili Pepper, Tomato, Cane Sugar, Onion, Garlic, Soybean, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Annie's Organic Tropical Treat Bunny Fruit Snacks 10 Count
Rice, Cane Sugar, Tapioca, Pear, Citric Acid, Sunflower, Carrot
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — STRAWBERRY LIGHT ICE CREAM, STRAWBERRY
Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Strawberry, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Corn, Fructose, Carrageenan
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Annie's Organic Bernie O's Canned Pasta
Wheat, Tomato, Cane Sugar, Corn, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid, Onion, Paprika, Garlic
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — CANDY SHOP GUMMI BEARS
Corn, Cane Sugar, Beet, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The J.m. Smucker Company — Smucker's, Sugar Free, Strawberry Preserves, Strawberry, Strawberry
Strawberry, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Russ Davis Wholesale — MILD CHUNKY LARGE GUACAMOLE, MILD CHUNKY
Avocado, Tomato, Onion, Coriander/Cilantro, Chili Pepper, Garlic, Lime, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — STRAWBERRY LEMONADE, STRAWBERRY
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Lemon, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1, Strawberry
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — LEMONADE HALF & HALF ICED TEA, LEMONADE
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Lemon, Tea, Benzoic Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #5
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
KANSAS CITY BBQ SAUCE
Tomato, Corn, Fructose, Cane Sugar, Onion, Garlic, Citric Acid, Mustard
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods Company — CHERRY MIXED FRUIT IN 100% FRUIT JUICE
Grape, Pineapple, Peach, Pear, Cherry, FD&C Red #3, Lemon, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — NEW ORLEANS STYLE SAUSAGE & VEGETABLES ONE SHEET PAN SEASONING MIX
Paprika, Chili Pepper, Onion, Garlic, Celery, Citric Acid, Corn, Sunflower
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Original Organic Hummus, Original
Sesame, Canola/Rapeseed, Lemon, Garlic, Citric Acid, Cumin, Paprika
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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