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 298 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Mars, Inc. — WRIGLEY'S JUICY FRUIT, AMERICA POP FLAVORED GUM, AMERICA POP
Cane Sugar, Corn, Glycerin/Glycerol, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Aspartame, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — MANGO CITRUS SODA
Fructose, Corn, Mango, Orange, Citric Acid, Caffeine, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — TWIZZLERS, SOFT LICORICE BITES, BLACK RASPBERRY, BLACK RASPBERRY
Corn, Wheat, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1, Sodium Metabisulfite, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Barilla G & R F.Lli S.P.A. — CREAMY GENOVESE WITH ITALIAN BASIL PESTO SAUCE, CREAMY GENOVESE WITH ITALIAN BASIL
Sunflower, Basil, Cashew, Cow's Milk, Egg White, Corn, Whey, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — TACO BUSINESS SALT FREE SEASONING MIX, TACO BUSINESS
Chili Pepper, Paprika, Onion, Potato, Garlic, Cumin, Cane Sugar, Rice, Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Foods Schweiz Holding GmbH — ORANGE NOIR 56% CACAO BELGIAN DARK CHOCOLATE CONFECTION WITH CANDIED ORANGE PEEL, ORANGE NOIR
Cane Sugar, Cocoa, Orange, Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Cow's Milk, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
P. K. Kinder Co., Inc. — THE SEAFOOD BLEND RUB, THE SEAFOOD BLEND
Garlic, Black Pepper, Paprika, Onion, Cane Sugar, Rice, Lemon, Citric Acid, Sunflower
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — V8 Splash Berry Blend Flavored Juice Beverage, 64 FL OZ Bottle
Fructose, Corn, Sweet Potato, Carrot, Apple, Cherry, Strawberry, Raspberry, Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Terrapin Ridge Farms LLC — CHILE LIME AIOLI SQUEEZE, CHILE LIME AIOLI
Canola/Rapeseed, Cane Sugar, Egg Yolk, Lime, Chili Pepper, Coriander/Cilantro, Garlic, Onion, Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — PEACH ICED TEA DRINK MIX, PEACH
Cane Sugar, Fructose, Citric Acid, Tea, Corn, Aspartame, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Blue #1
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — MACARONI & CHEESE MICROWAVEABLE DINNER
Wheat, Whey, Corn, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid, MSG, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, Tapioca
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
GENERAL MILLS SALES INC. — Fruit by the Foot Berry Tie-Dye Gluten-Free Fruit Snacks (6 Count)
Cane Sugar, Corn, Pear, Carrageenan, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Unilever — CLASSIC CHAI LATTE BLACK TEA CONCENTRATE, CLASSIC CHAI LATTE
Tea, Black Pepper, Ginger, Cinnamon, Cane Sugar, Honey, Vanilla, Coumarin/Vanillin, Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills, Inc. — FROLLICKS, PUMPKIN SEEDS, SWEET & SPICY, SWEET & SPICY
Cane Sugar, Canola/Rapeseed, Capsaicin, Chili Pepper, Citric Acid, Paprika, Pumpkin, Safflower, Solanine
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Terrapin Ridge Farms LLC — RASPBERRY PEACH CHIPOTLE SAUCE, RASPBERRY PEACH CHIPOTLE
Cane Sugar, Raspberry, Peach, Apple, Chili Pepper, Garlic, Onion, Corn, Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — AMERICAN POP GUM, AMERICAN POP
Cane Sugar, Corn, Glycerin/Glycerol, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Aspartame, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — ORGANIC OLIVE TAPENADE
Olive, Tyramine, Sunflower, Chili Pepper, Solanine, Garlic, Grape, Oregano, Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — STRAWBERRY BUBBLE GUM, STRAWBERRY
Cane Sugar, Corn, Glycerin/Glycerol, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Citric Acid, Aspartame, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #6
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods, LLC — MANGO GETS MANGOSTEEN MANGO, PINEAPPLE, BANANA, PASSION FRUIT & MANGOSTEEN EXOTIC BLEND OF FRUITS WITH FRUIT CHUNKS AND GRANOLA SMOOTHIE BOWL, MANGO GETS MANGOSTEEN
Mango, Banana, Pineapple, Tapioca, Citric Acid, Oat, Cane Sugar, Canola/Rapeseed, Honey
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hawaii Associated Wholesale — KAUAI KOOKIE, PETITE HAWAIIAN HOMESTYLE COOKIES
Wheat, Cane Sugar, Cow's Milk, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Citric Acid, Egg White, Egg Yolk, Vanilla
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
P. K. Kinder Co., Inc. — THE BBQ BLEND RUB, THE BBQ BLEND
Cane Sugar, Chili Pepper, Black Pepper, Garlic, Onion, Citric Acid, Paprika, Rice, Sunflower
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — JUICE BEVERAGE, GRAPE BLEND
Corn, Fructose, Sweet Potato, Carrot, Grape, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — MOUNTAIN DEW, CODE RED, FLAVORED DEW SODA, CHERRY, CHERRY
Fructose, Corn, Orange, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — APPLE BLUEBERRY OVERNIGHT OATS + PROBIOTICS CHILLED CEREAL, APPLE BLUEBERRY
Oat, Apple, Blueberry, Cane Sugar, Yogurt, Cow's Milk, Whey, Citric Acid, Lemon
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — CRYSTAL LIGHT, ICED TEA DRINK MIX, LEMON, LEMON
Citric Acid, Corn, Tea, Aspartame, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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