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 283 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
The Hershey Company — TWIZZLERS TWISTS
Corn, Wheat, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Glycerin/Glycerol
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — LIPTON, ICED TEA, RASPBERRY, RASPBERRY
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Tea, Caffeine, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40, Raspberry
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez International, Inc. — Sour Patch Kids, Stride, Extreme Sugar Free Gum, Blue Raspberry, Blue Raspberry
Glycerin/Glycerol, Aspartame, Blue #1, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — V8 Juice, Original 100% Vegetable Juice, Plant-based Drink, 32 Ounce Bottle
Tomato, Carrot, Celery, Beet, Parsley, Lettuce, Spinach, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dairy Free Plant-based Cheddar Style Slices Cheese
Coconut, Potato, Corn, Carrageenan, Citric Acid, Yeast (Baker's)
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Muir Glen Organic Whole Peeled Tomatoes in Juice
Tomato, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — V8 Original 100% Vegetable Juice, 12 FL OZ Bottle
Tomato, Carrot, Celery, Beet, Parsley, Lettuce, Spinach, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — MEXICAN STYLE LIME & CILANTRO DICED TOMATOES WITH LIME JUICE & CILANTRO, MEXICAN STYLE LIME & CILANTRO
Tomato, Chili Pepper, Lime, Coriander/Cilantro, Onion, Garlic, Cumin, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — MCCORMICK, GRILL MATES, MESQUITE SEASONING
Chili Pepper, Paprika, Cane Sugar, Onion, Garlic, Citric Acid, Corn, Capsaicin
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
RAYGE CANDY & NUTS JUICES, 6 OZ
Cane Sugar, Corn, Pear, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Annie's Organic Bunny Fruit Snacks Valentines 18ct
Tapioca, Cane Sugar, Pear, Citric Acid, Carrot, Sunflower
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — 100% VEGETABLE JUICE, ORIGINAL
Tomato, Carrot, Celery, Beet, Parsley, Lettuce, Spinach, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-cola North America Inc. — Sugar Free Diet Soda
Orange, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Aspartame, Caffeine, FD&C Yellow #5
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company — Honest Zero, Passion Fruit Green Tea, Sweetened with Organic Stevia
Tea, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
General Mills, Inc. — ANNIE'S, BERRY PATCH BUNNY FRUIT SNACKS, STRAWBERRY, CHERRY & RASPBERRY, STRAWBERRY, CHERRY & RASPBERRY
Tapioca, Cane Sugar, Pear, Citric Acid, Sunflower, Carrot, Blueberry, Turmeric
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Organic Strawberry Premium Spread
Strawberry, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Victoria's Kitchen Llc — Victoria's Kitchen, Almond Water, Coconut
Cane Sugar, Almond, Coconut, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Organic Blackberry Rose Lemonade, Blackberry Rose
Cane Sugar, Lemon, Citric Acid, Carrot
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — GAME FUEL SODA, BERRY LIME
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Coconut Flavored Coconut Drink, Coconut
Cane Sugar, Coconut, Fructose, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Annie's Organic Bunnies & Hearts Strawberry Fruit Snacks 22 Count
Rice, Cane Sugar, Tapioca, Pear, Citric Acid, Sunflower, Carrot
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Annie's Spirals with Butter & Parmesan Macaroni & Cheese, Made with Organic Pasta
Wheat, Whey, Cow's Milk, Corn, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — 365 Everyday Value, Organic Wafers, Lemon
Wheat, Cane Sugar, Lemon, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Organic Spelt Bread
Spelt, Wheat, Canola/Rapeseed, Cane Sugar, Egg White, Egg Yolk, Citric Acid, Yeast (Baker's)
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Rio Luna — Organic Diced Jalapenos
Chili Pepper, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
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