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 286 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Mondelez International, Inc. — TRIDENT, LAYERS, SWEDISH FISH SUGAR FREE GUM, BERRY + LEMON, BERRY + LEMON
Glycerin/Glycerol, Aspartame, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Frito-Lay Company — PUMPKIN SEEDS, CRACKED PEPPER
Pumpkin, Sunflower, Corn, Black Pepper, Garlic, Onion, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Tropicana Twister Strawberry Kiwi Cyclone Juice Drink (6 - 10 Fluid Ounce) 60 Fluid Ounce 6 Pack Plastic Bottles
Corn, Fructose, Apple, Grape, Strawberry, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Cape Cod Potato Chips Inc. — SEA SALT & VINEGAR KETTLE COOKED POTATO CHIPS, SEA SALT & VINEGAR
Potato, Canola/Rapeseed, Safflower, Sunflower, Corn, Citric Acid, Cane Sugar, Apple
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — SWEET CHILI SAUCE, SWEET CHILI
Cane Sugar, Fructose, Chili Pepper, Capsaicin, Solanine, Garlic, Corn, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — PARMESAN POMODORO ORGANIC PASTA SAUCE, PARMESAN POMODORO
Tomato, Citric Acid, Cane Sugar, Soybean, Cow's Milk, Onion, Garlic, Olive
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — SPARKLING BEVERAGE, MANGO PINEAPPLE
Fructose, Corn, Grape, Citric Acid, Caffeine, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — LEMONADE, LEMON
Cane Sugar, Fructose, Citric Acid, Corn, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, FD&C Yellow #5, Lemon
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — V8, SPLASH, FLAVORED BEVERAGE, MANGO LEMONADE, MANGO LEMONADE
Fructose, Corn, Sweet Potato, Carrot, Apple, Grape, Mango, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills, Inc. — Organic Bunny Fruit Snacks, Summer Strawberry
Tapioca, Pear, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Sunflower, Carrot
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Califia Farms, Lp — Toasted Coconut Flavor & Almondmilk Blend, Toasted Coconut
Almond, Coconut, Sunflower, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills, Inc. — Organic Berry Patch Bunny Fruit Flavored Snacks, Berry
Rice, Cane Sugar, Tapioca, Pear, Citric Acid, Sunflower, Carrot
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Blue Sky Organic Root Beer Can, 12 Fl Oz
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Tribe Mediterranean Foods, Inc. — Organic Roasted Garlic Hummus, Roasted Garlic
Canola/Rapeseed, Sesame, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Organic Fruit Snack, Kale & Grape
Apple, Grape, Tapioca, Carob, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — THRASHED APPLE SODA CHARGED WITH CRISP APPLE, THRASHED APPLE
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1, FD&C Red #40
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — V8 Juice, Original 100% Vegetable Juice, Plant-based Drink, 5.5 Ounce Can (pack of 48)
Tomato, Carrot, Celery, Beet, Parsley, Lettuce, Spinach, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Muir Glen Organic Italian Herb Pasta Sauce
Tomato, Onion, Olive, Garlic, Basil, Citric Acid, Oregano, Black Pepper, Thyme
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Clif Bar and Company — Blueberry Blast Organic Twisted Fruit + Veggie Snack, Blueberry Blast
Apple, Sweet Potato, Carrot, Beet, Lemon, Citric Acid, Sunflower
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company — Organic Juice Drink, Berry Berry Good Lemonade
Grape, Lemon, Cranberry, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Organic Crushed Tomatoes in Organic Tomato Puree with Basil, Basil
Tomato, Basil, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Organic Apricot Premium Spread
Apricot, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — Campbell's(R) Signature Frozen Ready to Eat Reduced Sodium Tomato Basil Soup, 4 Pound Pouches, 4-Pack
Tomato, Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Wheat, Onion, Garlic, Basil, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
MIXOLOGY PEACH SOUR MOCKTAIL & MIXER
Cane Sugar, Peach, Lemon, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Metabisulfite, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Victoria's Kitchen Llc — Victoria's Kitchen, Almond Water Beverage, Vanilla & Rose
Cane Sugar, Almond, Vanilla, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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