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 297 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
ASSORTED BUBBLE GUM FILLED POPS
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, Turmeric
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
GENERAL MILLS SALES INC. — Old El Paso Fajita Seasoning Mix
Corn, Cane Sugar, Chili Pepper, Citric Acid, Canola/Rapeseed, Soybean, Sunflower, Onion, Garlic
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — VEGETABLE & FRUIT, THIRST-QUENCHING JUICE COCKTAIL, CRANBERRY GRAPE
Fructose, Corn, Sweet Potato, Carrot, Apple, Cranberry, Raspberry, Grape, Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills, Inc. — ANNIE'S, NATURALS, FAT FREE VINAIGRETTE, MANGO, MANGO
Mango, Apple, Cane Sugar, Corn, Solanine, Onion, Garlic, Citric Acid, Celery
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
COTTAGE DOUBLES LOWFAT & RASPBERRY TOPPING WITH 2% MILKFAT COTTAGE CHEESE
Cow's Milk, Cottage Cheese, Carrageenan, Citric Acid, Raspberry, Cane Sugar, Corn, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
PepsiCo, Inc. (CytoSport) — VANILLA CREME LIGHT NON DAIRY LOW-FAT PROTEIN SHAKE, VANILLA CREME
Cow's Milk, Whey, Canola/Rapeseed, Sunflower, Carrageenan, Citric Acid, Corn, Coconut, Vanilla
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Coca-Cola USA Operations — MELLO YELLO, SODA, CHERRY, CITRUS, CHERRY, CITRUS
Corn, Fructose, Orange, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — COOL BERRY BETA
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Tapioca, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #2, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Blue #1, FD&C Yellow #6
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Frito-Lay Company — DILL PICKLE PUMPKIN SEEDS, DILL PICKLE
Pumpkin, Sunflower, Citric Acid, Corn, Cane Sugar, MSG, Garlic, Onion, Dill
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The J.M. Smucker Company — ALMOND MIX BAR, MANGO TANGO
Almond, Mango, Peanut, Cane Sugar, Apple, Tapioca, Rice, Lime, Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — PORK JERKY
Pork, Cane Sugar, Tomato, Cherry, Honey, Onion, Garlic, Celery, Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — CREOLE HOT & SPICY BUTTER RECIPE INJECTABLE MARINADE, CREOLE HOT & SPICY BUTTER RECIPE
Chili Pepper, Corn, Cane Sugar, Cow's Milk, Garlic, Onion, Paprika, Polysorbate 80, Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — GRAPE BUBBLE GUM, GRAPE
Cane Sugar, Corn, Glycerin/Glycerol, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Aspartame, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — MANGO PINEAPPLE DRINK MIX PACKETS, MANGO PINEAPPLE
Citric Acid, Corn, Aspartame, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills, Inc. — ORGANIC WHOLE MILK YOGURT TUBES, STRAWBUNNY BANANA, BERRY PATCH
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Strawberry, Banana, Blueberry, Raspberry, Tapioca, Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — ORIGINAL CHERRY, ORANGE, STRAWBERRY & LEMON FRUIT CHEWS, ORIGINAL CHERRY, ORANGE, STRAWBERRY & LEMON
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 |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — Prego Cremini Pomodoro With Roasted Garlic Pasta Sauce, 23.5 OZ Jar
Tomato, Mushroom, Onion, Garlic, Cane Sugar, Olive, Citric Acid, Basil, Yeast (Baker's)
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — SUMMER SPLASH STRAWBERRY WATERMELON, LEMON LIME, CHERRY COOLER & GRAPE SLUSHIE FRUIT CHEWS, SUMMER SPLASH
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Tapioca, Apple, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Blue #1
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
RAYGE CANDY & NUTS GUMMY BEARS, 6 OZ
Corn, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Coconut, Canola/Rapeseed, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Russ Davis Wholesale — MANGO HABANERO SALSA -SMALL, MANGO HABANERO
Mango, Tomato, Citric Acid, Onion, Chili Pepper, Coriander/Cilantro, Lime, Garlic, Cane Sugar
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — STARBURST ORIGINAL JELLY BEANS EASTER CANDY
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Apple, Tapioca, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, Blue #1
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — DARKSIDE FORBIDDEN FRUIT, BLOOD ORANGE, BLACK CHERRY, DARK BERRY, MIDNIGHT LIME BITE SIZE CANDIES, DARKSIDE
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Tapioca, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1, Blue #2, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — DICED TOMATOES WITH ROSEMARY & OREGANO, ROSEMARY & OREGANO
Tomato, Garlic, Onion, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Paprika, Oregano, Parsley, Rosemary
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hillshire Brands Company — PLANT BASED NUGGETS MADE WITH PLANT PROTEIN
Soybean, Canola/Rapeseed, Wheat, Corn, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Garlic, Onion, Yeast (Baker's)
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — MOUNTAIN DEW, GAME FUEL, SODA, CITRUS CHERRY, CITRUS CHERRY
Corn, Fructose, Orange, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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