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 281 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Campbell Soup Company — V8 +hydrate Plant-based Hydrating Beverage, Strawberry Cucumber, 8 Oz. Can (pack of 6)
Sweet Potato, Citric Acid, Strawberry
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez International, Inc. — Watermelon Vibes Sugar Free Gum, Watermelon
Citric Acid, Aspartame, FD&C Red #40, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pomegrenate Aloe Vera Drink
Fructose, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Turmeric
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — PORK AND BEANS IN TOMATO SAUCE, PORK AND BEANS
Navy Bean, Cane Sugar, Tomato, Pork, Corn, Onion, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — 365 Everyday Value, Organic Coffee Creamer, Vanilla
Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Soybean, Vanilla, Lecithin (Soy), Citric Acid, Carrageenan
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Lipton — Plant Butter with Olive Oil 79% Plant-based Oil Spread, Plant Butter
Soybean, Olive, Lecithin (Soy), Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — Original Organic Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies, Original
Tomato, Chili Pepper, Citric Acid, Coriander/Cilantro
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Original Ginger Ale Organic Soda Syrup
Cane Sugar, Lemon, Rice, Ginger, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — Plant-based Chive & Onion Non-dairy Spread, Chive; Onion
Coconut, Potato, Onion, Carob, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Classico — Organic Marinara Pasta Sauce
Tomato, Citric Acid, Olive, Onion, Cane Sugar, Garlic
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — Cherry Pomegranate Sugar Free Low Calorie Gelatin Snacks, Cherry Pomegranate
Citric Acid, Aspartame, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — TOMATO SAUCE, TOMATO
Tomato, Onion, Garlic, Chili Pepper, Citric Acid, Solanine, Capsaicin, Salicylic Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — SPICY HOT VEGETABLE 100% JUICE FROM CONCENTRATE, SPICY HOT
Tomato, Carrot, Celery, Beet, Parsley, Lettuce, Spinach, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Organic Hot Salsa
Tomato, Citric Acid, Chili Pepper, Onion, Cane Sugar, Garlic
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills, Inc. — Strawberry, Raspberry & Apple Organic Bees, Bugs & Butterflies Fruit Snacks, Strawberry, Raspberry & Apple
Tapioca, Cane Sugar, Pear, Honey, Citric Acid, Sunflower, Carrot
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — V8 Juice, Original 100% Vegetable Juice, Plant-based Drink, 64 Ounce Bottle
Tomato, Carrot, Celery, Beet, Parsley, Lettuce, Spinach, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Mango Lemonade Organic Juice Beverage, Mango Lemonade
Cane Sugar, Lemon, Mango, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Organics Elmo's Punch 100% Juice
Apple, Strawberry, Cherry, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Organic Flavored Juice Blend From Concentrate, Purple Carrot, Beet & Cherry with Elderberry & Echinacea
Carrot, Beet, Apple, Cherry, Blueberry, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — MARASCHINO CHERRIES WITH STEMS
Cherry, Corn, Fructose, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Metabisulfite
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Organic Mango Premium Spread
Mango, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills, Inc. — Tropical Treat Flavored Organic Bunny Fruit Snacks, Tropical Treat
Tapioca, Cane Sugar, Pear, Citric Acid, Sunflower, Carrot
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods Company — Mango Chunks in Organic 100% White Grape Juice
Mango, Grape, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Organic Salsa, Roasted Garlic
Tomato, Citric Acid, Onion, Garlic, Chili Pepper, Coriander/Cilantro
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Organic Reduced Sugar Cherry Preserves, Cherry
Cherry, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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