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 288 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — THE PITMASTER'S CHOICE BARBECUE SAUCE
Tomato, Fructose, Corn, Cane Sugar, Mustard, Onion, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Califia Farms, Lp — Unsweetened Almondmilk, Unsweetened
Almond, Sunflower, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Organic Grape Pops
Cane Sugar, Grape, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Frito-Lay Company — FLAVORED CHUNKY SALSA, SWEET MANGO, MILD
Tomato, Onion, Mango, Chili Pepper, Cane Sugar, Coriander/Cilantro, Citric Acid, Garlic
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills, Inc. — Summer Strawberry Flavored Organic Real Fruit Juice, Summer Strawberry
Rice, Cane Sugar, Tapioca, Pear, Citric Acid, Sunflower, Carrot
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — CHILI FIXIN'S SEASONED DICED TOMATOES & GREEN CHILIES, CHILI FIXIN'S
Tomato, Chili Pepper, Garlic, Oregano, Cumin, Onion, Citric Acid, Coriander/Cilantro
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Organic Fruit Snack, Beet & Cherry
Cherry, Grape, Beet, Apple, Tapioca, Carob, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Terrapin Ridge Farms LLC — AMBER ALE PINEAPPLE JALAPENO JAM, AMBER ALE PINEAPPLE JALAPENO
Cane Sugar, Pineapple, Chili Pepper, Barley, Malt, Hops, Yeast (Brewer's), Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Tropicana Twister Blue Raspberry Rush Flavored Juice 20 Fluid Ounce Plastic Bottle
Corn, Fructose, Grape, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, Blue #1, FD&C Red #40
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — Plum Organics Mighty Morning Banana, Blueberry, Oat, Quinoa 3.17oz (pack of 4)
Banana, Citric Acid, Blueberry, Oat, Quinoa, Lemon, Nutmeg
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Muir Glen Organic Classic Marinara Pasta Sauce
Tomato, Onion, Olive, Garlic, Citric Acid, Basil, Black Pepper, Oregano
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co/golden Grain — TOASTED PINE NUT COUSCOUS MIX, TOASTED PINE NUT
Wheat, Yeast (Baker's), Garlic, Onion, Parsley, Turmeric, Chicken, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — SPARK SODA WITH A BLAST OF RASPBERRY LEMONADE, SPARK
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1, Watermelon
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — LOW FAT YOGURT, ORIGINAL STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Whey, Cane Sugar, Corn, Strawberry, Fructose, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Newman's Own, Inc. — Organic Tuscan Italian Dressing
Soybean, Garlic, Cane Sugar, Solanine, Citric Acid, Paprika, Onion
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Clearly Organic, Instant Oatmeal, Apple Cinnamon
Oat, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, Cinnamon
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Bj's Wholesale Club / Corporate Brands — Organic Iced Tea & Lemonade
Cane Sugar, Tea, Lemon, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — WY SIP CRN W PBLN PEP 11.1 OZ
Chicken, Corn, Chili Pepper, Cow's Milk, Onion, Garlic, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Scooby Doo Gluten-free Fruit Snacks Value Pack (20 Count)
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, Sunflower, Turmeric
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Califia Farms, Lp — Vanilla Almondmilk, Vanilla
Almond, Cane Sugar, Sunflower, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez International, Inc. — Watermelon Twist Sugar Free Gum with Xylitol, Watermelon Twist
Aspartame, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Red #40, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Organic Four Fruit Premium Spread
Strawberry, Cherry, Raspberry, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills, Inc. — Organic Summer Strawberry Bunny Fruit Flavored Snacks, Strawberry
Rice, Cane Sugar, Tapioca, Pear, Citric Acid, Sunflower, Carrot
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Minute Maid Company — FRUIT DRINK, FRUIT PUNCH
Fructose, Corn, Pear, Pineapple, Orange, Grape, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — V8 Low Sodium 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 |
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