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 290 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
The Minute Maid Company — BERRY PUNCH FLAVORED FROZEN CONCENTRATED
Fructose, Corn, Grape, Apple, Pear, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Organic Carrot & Orange Fruit Snack
Apple, Grape, Carrot, Orange, Tapioca, Carob, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — FLAMIN' HOT SODA, FLAMIN' HOT
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
GENERAL MILLS SALES INC. — Fruit Roll-Ups Strawberry Sensation 4 Count
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 |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Organic Whole Peeled Tomatoes
Tomato, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Campbell Soup Company — Plum Organics Mighty 4 Blends Banana, Peach, Pumpkin, Carrot, Greek Yogurt & Oat, 4oz
Banana, Citric Acid, Pumpkin, Carrot, Yogurt, Cow's Milk, Peach, Oat, Lemon, Cinnamon
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Organic Crunchy Chili Lime Plantain Nuggets
Banana, Coconut, Tapioca, Lime, Citric Acid, Black Pepper
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Marinara Organic Pasta Sauce, Marinara
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Onion, Olive, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Muir Glen Organic Chunky Tomato Herb Pasta Sauce
Tomato, Onion, Olive, Garlic, Basil, Citric Acid, Oregano, Thyme, Black Pepper
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — V8 Low Sodium Original 100% Vegetable Juice, 46 FL OZ Bottle (Pack of 6)
Tomato, Carrot, Celery, Beet, Parsley, Lettuce, Spinach, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Cadia, Organic Lemon Wafers
Wheat, Cane Sugar, Egg White, Egg Yolk, Lemon, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Trader Joe's — Organic Tomatoes, Diced in Tomato Juice
Tomato, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
La Terra Fina USA Inc. — Organic Classic Ranch Dip & Dressing
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Sunflower, Onion, Yeast (Baker's), Garlic, Corn, Cane Sugar, Parsley, Citric Acid, Dill
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Muir Glen Classic Marinara Organic Pasta Sauce
Tomato, Onion, Olive, Garlic, Basil, Black Pepper, Citric Acid, Oregano
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills, Inc. — FRUIT ROLL-UPS, GALACTIC FRUIT SNACKS, PLANETARY PUNCH, PLANETARY PUNCH
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 |
|
The Hershey Company — TWIZZLERS, TWISTS CANDY, STRAWBERRY, STRAWBERRY
Corn, Wheat, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Glycerin/Glycerol
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
BJ's Wholesale Club / Corporate Brands — TROPICAL FLAVORED PUNCH BLEND FROM CONCENTRATE, TROPICAL
Fructose, Corn, Apple, Orange, Pineapple, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — MILK CHOCOLATE & PEANUT BUTTER CUPS, MILK CHOCOLATE AND PEANUT BUTTER
Peanut, Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Cocoa, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Corn, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Cadia, Organic Shells & White Cheddar
Wheat, Cow's Milk, Whey, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
GENERAL MILLS SALES INC. — Yoplait Light Strawberry Yogurt
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Strawberry, Corn, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Carrageenan, FD&C Red #40
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company — Honest Tea, Organic Tea, Peach, Peach
Tea, Cane Sugar, Peach, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Coconut Flavor Aloe Vera Drink
Fructose, Citric Acid, Coconut, Cane Sugar
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Organic Wild Blueberry Premium Spread
Blueberry, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — FLAMIN' HOT SODA WITH A BLAST OF HEAT AND CITRUS, FLAMIN' HOT
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Cascadian Farm Organic Strawberry Fruit Spread
Cane Sugar, Strawberry, Lemon, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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