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 284 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-van Camp — Strawberry Organic Thirst Quencher, Strawberry
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 2 — Individual Reintroduction |
|
Pepsi-cola North America Inc. — Organic Black Tea, Sicilian Lemon & Honeysuckle
Tea, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Lemon
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — V8 Original 100% Vegetable Juice, 5.5 FL OZ Can (Pack of 6)
Tomato, Carrot, Celery, Beet, Parsley, Lettuce, Spinach, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — 365 Everyday Value, Organic Yellow Cling Peach Slices
Peach, Pear, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Organic Tomato Soup Condensed
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Wheat, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills, Inc. — MINI ROLLS. SCREAMIN STRAWBERRY TATTOOS
Corn, Cane Sugar, Pear, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Yoplait USA — Keto Friendly Strawberry Dairy Drink, Strawberry
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Whey, Sunflower, Avocado, Citric Acid, Carrot
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
So Delicious Dairy Free — Organic Caramel Creamer Coconut Milk, Caramel
Coconut, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Original Flavor Aloe Vera Drink
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Grape, Honey
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — Arctic Grape Sugar Free Gum
Corn, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Blue #1, FD&C Red #40, Aspartame
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Tropicana Twister Blue Raspberry Rush Juice Drink (6 - 10FlOz) 60 Fluid Ounce 6Pk Plastic Bottles
Corn, Fructose, Grape, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, Blue #1, FD&C Red #40
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Minute Maid Company — WATERMELON PUNCH FLAVORED JUICE BLEND
Fructose, Corn, Pear, Apple, Watermelon, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Red #40
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Classico — Organic Roasted Garlic Pasta Sauce
Tomato, Citric Acid, Garlic, Cane Sugar, Olive, Onion
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — Strawberry Sugar Free Low Calorie Gelatin Snacks, Strawberry
Citric Acid, Aspartame, FD&C Red #40
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — V8 ENGY SPKLG STRAW KIWI 11.5FO
Sweet Potato, Carrot, Apple, Grape, Citric Acid, Strawberry, Tea, Caffeine
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Foods-Snack Foods Group — PORK SMOKED SAUSAGE PREMIUM SMOKED STICKS, MEMPHIS STYLE BBQ SEASONED
Beef, Pork, Chicken, Soybean, Corn, Cane Sugar, Paprika, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
P. K. Kinder Co., Inc. — TERIYAKI WITH SESAME & GINGER MARINADE & SAUCE, TERIYAKI
Cane Sugar, Soybean, Wheat, Sesame, Garlic, Ginger, Corn, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — V8 Spicy Hot 100% Vegetable Juice, 46 FL OZ Bottle (Pack of 6)
Tomato, Carrot, Celery, Beet, Parsley, Lettuce, Spinach, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — AMERICA MIX BITE SIZE CANDIES, AMERICA MIX
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Tapioca, Blue #1, Blue #2, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
GENERAL MILLS SALES INC. — Trix Cereal
Corn, Cane Sugar, Rice, Canola/Rapeseed, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #6, Blue #1, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hershey Foods Corporation (U.S.) — REESES MILK CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER CUP STANDARD BAR
Peanut, Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Cocoa, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Corn, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Organic Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce, Organic Tomato Basil
Tomato, Citric Acid, Carrot, Onion, Sweet Potato, Garlic, Basil, Black Pepper, Oregano
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Unilever — VANILLA CARAMEL CHAI LATTE BLACK TEA CONCENTRATE, VANILLA CARAMEL CHAI LATTE
Tea, Black Pepper, Ginger, Cinnamon, Cane Sugar, Honey, Vanilla, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — V8 Juice, Original 100% Vegetable Juice, Plant-based Drink, 46 Ouncebottle
Tomato, Carrot, Celery, Beet, Parsley, Lettuce, Spinach, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — PULL 'N' PEEL CANDY, CINNAMON FIRE
Corn, Wheat, Cane Sugar, Glycerin/Glycerol, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Soybean, Lecithin (Soy)
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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