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 287 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Humankind — Organic Sweet Tea with Hint of Lemon, Hint of Lime
Cane Sugar, Tea, Lemon, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Organic Raspberry Preserves, Raspberry
Raspberry, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Hunts Organic Tomato Sauce, 15 Oz
Tomato, Onion, Garlic, Citric Acid, Chili Pepper
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — Sugar Free Strawberry-kiwi Low Calorie Gelatin Snacks, Strawberry; Kiwi
Citric Acid, Aspartame, FD&C Red #40
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Annie's Organic Spring Fruit Snacks 22 Count
Rice, Cane Sugar, Tapioca, Pear, Citric Acid, Sunflower, Carrot, Turmeric
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Annie's Organic Bees, Bugs & Butterflies Strawberry, Raspberry & Apple Fruit Flavored Snacks 50 Count
Rice, Cane Sugar, Tapioca, Pear, Honey, Citric Acid, Sunflower, Carrot
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Muir Glen Classic Marinara Organic Pasta Sauce
Tomato, Onion, Olive, Garlic, Basil, Citric Acid, Black Pepper, Oregano
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Organic Nonfat Greek Yogurt
Yogurt, Cow's Milk, Pineapple, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Clif Kid — Mango Mania Organic Twisted Fruit & Veggie Rope, Mango Mania
Apple, Sweet Potato, Carrot, Lemon, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The J.m. Smucker Company — Sugar Free Chocolate Flavored Syrup, Chocolate
Glycerin/Glycerol, Cocoa, Cow's Milk, Soybean, Corn, Coumarin/Vanillin, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills, Inc. — FRUIT ROLL-UPS, FRUIT ROLL SNACKS, MINIONS STRAWBERRY SENSATION, MINIONS STRAWBERRY SENSATION
Corn, Cane Sugar, Pear, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Foods-Snack Foods Group — PREMIUM PORK SMOKED SAUSAGE STICKS, MEMPHIS STYLE BBQ SEASONED
Beef, Pork, Chicken, Soybean, Corn, Cane Sugar, Paprika, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Tostitos Hint of Lime Flavored Tortilla Chips 13 Ounce Plastic Bag
Corn, Canola/Rapeseed, Sunflower, Cane Sugar, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid, Lime, Whey
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Tropicana Twister Blue Raspberry Rush 96 Fluid Ounce Plastic Bottle
Corn, Fructose, Grape, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, Blue #1, FD&C Red #40
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
FAIR TRADE CHOCOLATE FLAVORED SYRUP
Cane Sugar, Cocoa, Caffeine, Tyramine, Phenylethylamine, Citric Acid, Vanilla, Coumarin/Vanillin
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — RASPBERRY LEMONADE FRUIT SNACKS
Tapioca, Cane Sugar, Pear, Citric Acid, Sunflower, Raspberry, Lemon, Carrot
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — MARASCHINO CHERRIES
Cherry, Corn, Fructose, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Metabisulfite
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Frito-Lay Company — POPCORN CARAMEL APPLE
Cane Sugar, Corn, Canola/Rapeseed, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Organic Sliced Pepperoncini
Chili Pepper, Grape, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mango Flavor Aloe Vera Drink
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Mango, Cabbage, Honey
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Original Aloe Vera Drink
Cane Sugar, Grape, Honey, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Annie's Organic Bendy Berry Really Peely Fruit Tape 6 Count
Pear, Apple, Sunflower, Tapioca, Raspberry, Strawberry, Carrot, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Organic Salsa, Black Bean
Tomato, Citric Acid, Chili Pepper, Cane Sugar, Lime, Onion, Garlic, Solanine
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pineapple Flavor Aloe Vera Drink
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Pineapple, Honey
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — PINTO BEANS, IN JALAPENO FLAVORED CHILI SAUCE
Pinto Bean, Tomato, Chili Pepper, Cane Sugar, Soybean, Onion, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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