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 292 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
The J.m. Smucker Company — Sugar Free Preserves, Red Raspberry
Raspberry, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Frito-Lay Company — POTATO CHIPS, SEA SALT & VINEGAR
Potato, Corn, Canola/Rapeseed, Sunflower, Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — HOT & SPICY GHOST PEPPER CASHEWS, HOT & SPICY GHOST PEPPER
Cashew, Canola/Rapeseed, Chili Pepper, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Onion, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Tropicana Farmstand 100% Fruit & Vegetable Juice Pomegranate Bluberry Flavor 46 Fluid Ounce Plastic Bottle
Sweet Potato, Carrot, Beet, Apple, Blueberry, Grape, Plum, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — SOUR TROPICAL KIWI STRAWBERRY, PINEAPPLE, PASSION FRUIT, MANGO AIRS GUMMIES, SOUR TROPICAL
Corn, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Sunflower, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
FLAMIN' HOT WITH A BLAST OF HEAT AND CITRUS SODA
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — MOUNTAIN DEW, PITCH BLACK II, SODA, GRAPE, GRAPE
Fructose, Corn, Orange, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — Plum Organics Mighty 4 Blends Banana, Kiwi, Spinach, Greek Yogurt & Barley, 4oz
Banana, Citric Acid, Spinach, Cow's Milk, Whey, Yogurt, Barley, Lemon, Vanilla
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hormel Foods Corporation — Organic Homestyle Guacamole, Homestyle
Avocado, Tomato, Citric Acid, Chili Pepper, Onion, Garlic, Lime, Coriander/Cilantro
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Wild Blueberry Organic Fruit Spread, Wild Blueberry
Blueberry, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Classic Organic Energy Drink
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Caffeine, Coffee
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Muir Glen Organic Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce
Tomato, Olive, Onion, Carrot, Basil, Garlic, Citric Acid, Black Pepper, Oregano
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Tazo, Inc. — Tazo Organic Iced Green Tea 13.8 Fluid Ounce Glass Bottle
Tea, Mint/Menthol, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Cadia, Organic Sparkling Italian Soda, Lemon
Lemon, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Muir Glen Organic Tomato Roasted Garlic Pasta Sauce
Tomato, Onion, Olive, Garlic, Black Pepper, Oregano, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The J.M. Smucker Company — SMUCKER'S, MAGIC SHELL, FLAVORED TOPPING, PINK LEMONADE, PINK LEMONADE
Cane Sugar, Coconut, Cow's Milk, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — OUTRAGEOUS ORIGINAL MAX BUBBLE GUM, OUTRAGEOUS ORIGINAL
Cane Sugar, Corn, Glycerin/Glycerol, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Citric Acid, Aspartame, FD&C Red #40
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
THE NATURAL CONFECTIONERY CO. CANDY JELLY SNAKES
Cane Sugar, Wheat, Corn, Citric Acid, Grape, Carrot, Paprika, Turmeric
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company — Organic Juice Drink From Concentrate, Tropical Tango Punch
Grape, Orange, Mango, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Cadia — Raspberry Organic Preserves, Raspberry
Raspberry, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — Black Cherry Ice Cubes Sugar Free Gum, Black Cherry
Soybean, Lecithin (Soy), Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1, Aspartame, Corn
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Hunts Diced Organic Petite Tomatoes, 14.5 Oz
Tomato, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Bj's Wholesale Club / Corporate Brands — Wellsley Farms, Organic Sweetened Green Tea, Honey & Ginseng
Cane Sugar, Tea, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Organic Diced Pears
Pear, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Organic Kale & Grape Fruit Snack
Apple, Grape, Tapioca, Carob, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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