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 295 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Clif Bar and Company — Clif, Organic Energy Food, Sweet Potato with Sea Salt
Sweet Potato, Carrot, Sunflower, Potato, Apple, Olive, Quinoa, Citric Acid
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Sugar Free Low Calorie Drink Mix, Lemonade
Citric Acid, Aspartame, Lemon, Soybean, Lecithin (Soy), FD&C Yellow #5
|
8 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Newman's Own, Inc. — MILD SALSA, MILD
Tomato, Onion, Chili Pepper, Cane Sugar, Corn, Coriander/Cilantro, Garlic, Lime, Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — FRUIT CHEWS, CHERRY, FRUIT PUNCH, WATERMELON, STRAWBERRY
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Tapioca, Apple, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, Blue #1
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
P. K. Kinder Co., Inc. — AVOCADO LIME RUB, AVOCADO LIME
Garlic, Onion, Cane Sugar, Rice, Avocado, Tapioca, Citric Acid, Lime, Sunflower
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — HONEY MUSTARD
Soybean, Cane Sugar, Mustard, Honey, Egg Yolk, Grape, Citric Acid, Paprika, Turmeric
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
GENERAL MILLS SALES INC. — Yoplait Light Strawberries 'n Bananas Yogurt
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Strawberry, Corn, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Carrageenan, Aspartame, FD&C Red #40
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — CARAMEL POPCORN WITH PEANUTS, CARAMEL
Cane Sugar, Corn, Peanut, Cow's Milk, Soybean, Whey, Lecithin (Soy), Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
BOPPIN' STRAWBERRY FLAVORED FRUIT DRINK
Cane Sugar, Corn, Pear, Fructose, Glycerin/Glycerol, Grape, Carrageenan, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
PepsiCo, Inc. — TROPICAL MANGO ZERO SUGAR ENERGY DRINK, TROPICAL MANGO
Fructose, Corn, Grape, Orange, Citric Acid, Caffeine, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Quaker Real Medleys Peach Almond Oatmeal 2.64 Ounce Cup
Oat, Wheat, Cane Sugar, Almond, Peach, Rye, Barley, Quinoa, Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hormel Foods Corporation — ORIGINAL SEASONED PORK CUBES, ORIGINAL SEASONED
Pork, Corn, Yeast (Baker's), Yeast (Brewer's), Lemon, Lime, Orange, Grapefruit, Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle Healthcare Nutrition, Inc. — ORIGINAL BALANCED NUTRITIONAL DRINK, PEACHES & CREME, PEACHES & CREME
Corn, Cane Sugar, Cow's Milk, Whey, Canola/Rapeseed, Soybean, Lecithin (Soy), Carrageenan, Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — ORIGINAL CHERRY, ORANGE, STRAWBERRY & LEMON MINI FRUIT CHEWS, ORIGINAL
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Tapioca, Apple, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, Blue #1
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
PRIMAL KITCHEN — GARLIC ALFREDO SAUCE, GARLIC ALFREDO
Cashew, Avocado, Tapioca, Garlic, Lemon, Onion, Black Pepper, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — BRISK, ICED TEA, MANGO, MANGO
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Tea, Benzoic Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Gatorade Tropical Orange Protein Recovery Beverage 16.9 Fluid Ounce Plastic Bottle
Cow's Milk, Whey, Cane Sugar, Corn, Fructose, Carrageenan, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #6
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — TOTAL SEASONING FOR CHICKEN & FISH, CHICKEN & FISH
Garlic, Paprika, Parsley, Onion, MSG, Citric Acid, Cane Sugar, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — VEGAN CHEDDAR FLAVOR ALMOND & SUNFLOWER SEED FLOUR CRACKERS, VEGAN CHEDDAR
Almond, Sunflower, Tapioca, Onion, Garlic, Citric Acid, Paprika, Yeast (Baker's), Rosemary
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — MOCHA COFFEE DRINK MIX, MOCHA
Cane Sugar, Coconut, Corn, Cow's Milk, Coffee, Caffeine, Cocoa, Citric Acid, Coumarin/Vanillin
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — FRENCH'S, ORIGINAL TACO SEASONING MIX
Chili Pepper, Paprika, Oregano, Cumin, Corn, Onion, Garlic, Potato, Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CINNAMON TOAST CRUNCH FROSTING
Cane Sugar, Corn, Canola/Rapeseed, Cinnamon, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Newman's Own, Inc. — CRANBERRY WALNUT LITE VINAIGRETTE, CRANBERRY WALNUT
Apple, Cane Sugar, Cranberry, Corn, Walnut, Garlic, Onion, Cabbage, Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — MEDITERRANEAN SUN-DRIED TOMATO SAUCE, MEDITERRANEAN SUN-DRIED TOMATO
Tomato, Sodium Metabisulfite, Cow's Milk, Onion, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Canola/Rapeseed, Basil, Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CONAGRA BRANDS — HATCH GREEN CHILES SMOKED SHORTY SAUSAGES, HATCH GREEN CHILES
Pork, Chili Pepper, Capsaicin, Cane Sugar, Yeast (Baker's), Garlic, Celery, Citric Acid, Beef
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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