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 282 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Morello Cherry Organic Fruit Spread, Morello Cherry
Cherry, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez USA — SOUR PATCH VARIEGATE RASPBERRY 2LB
Corn, Fructose, Cane Sugar, Raspberry, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1, Benzoic Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — DEW-S-A CODE RED + WHITE OUT + VOLTAGE SODA, DEW-S-A
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — ORIGINAL CHERRY, ORANGE, STRAWBERRY & LEMON MINIS UNWRAPPED! FRUIT CHEWS, ORIGINAL
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Tapioca, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — DRY ROASTED PEANUTS, SALTED
Peanut, Cane Sugar, Corn, Tapioca, Paprika, Garlic, Onion, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — MIXED FRUIT FLAVORED MOUNTAIN COOLER FROM CONCENTRATE, MIXED FRUIT
Corn, Fructose, Pear, Grape, Apple, Citric Acid, Orange, Pineapple
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — MTN DEW, SODA, BERRY LIME, BERRY LIME
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — SPARKLING ICED TEA, LEMONADE
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Lemon, Tea, Caffeine, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #5
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Banza Llc — Shells + Vegan Cheddar Plant-based Mac with Chickpea Pasta, Shells + Vegan Cheddar
Tapioca, Green Pea, Sweet Potato, Yeast (Baker's), Pumpkin, Turmeric, Paprika, Citric Acid, Onion, Garlic
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Salutti Aloe Drink, 50.7 Fl Oz
Fructose, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Corn
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — Sugar Free 5 Flavors Hard Candy, Cherry; Raspberry; Watermelon; Orange; Pineapple
Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Berry Blend Organic Juice, Berry Blend
Apple, Strawberry, Blueberry, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Light Sweetened with Organic Cane Sugar & Organic Stevia Lemonade, Light
Cane Sugar, Lemon, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Muir Glen Organic Mild Salsa
Tomato, Onion, Garlic, Coriander/Cilantro, Lime, Chili Pepper, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Halls Defense Cough Drops Big Watermelon Sugar Free Vitamin C1x Pc
Citric Acid, Aspartame, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Organic Italian Soda
Cane Sugar, Lemon, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez International, Inc. — Bubblegum Mega Sugar Free Gum with Xylitol, Bubblegum
Glycerin/Glycerol, Aspartame, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Terrapin Ridge Farms LLC — BLUEBERRY BOURBON PECAN JAM, BLUEBERRY BOURBON PECAN
Cane Sugar, Blueberry, Pecan, Lemon, Citric Acid, Corn, Rye, Barley
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Victoria's Kitchen Llc — Almond Water
Cane Sugar, Almond, Vanilla, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Lipton — Plant Butter with Almond Oil 79% Plant-based Oil Spread, Almond Oil
Almond, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Gluten Free Plain Panko Crispy Coating Crumbs
Potato, Citric Acid, Cane Sugar
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods, Llc — Berry Blend Keto Raspberries, Strawberries, Blueberries and Avocado, Berry Blend
Raspberry, Strawberry, Blueberry, Avocado, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Aloe Vera + White Grape Organic Aloe Vera Juice Drink
Cane Sugar, Grape, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Monster Energy Company — Organic Pink Lemonade, Organic
Cane Sugar, Lemon, Citric Acid, Strawberry
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — Lemon-lime Sugar Free Low Calorie Gelatin Snacks, Lemon-lime
Aspartame, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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