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 300 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — V8 Splash Berry Blend Flavored Juice Beverage, 12 FL OZ Bottle (Pack of 24)
Fructose, Corn, Sweet Potato, Carrot, Apple, Cherry, Strawberry, Raspberry, Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — FRUIT FLAVORED SNACKS
Corn, Cane Sugar, Pear, Apple, Strawberry, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
GOOD & GATHER — TRADITIONAL PIZZA SAUCE WITH BASIL, OREGANO & PARSLEY, TRADITIONAL
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Olive, Onion, Citric Acid, Garlic, Basil, Oregano, Parsley
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Foods-Snack Foods Group — SLIM JIM, DARE, BEEF JERKY, KINDA HOT CHILI PEPPER, KINDA HOT CHILI PEPPER
Beef, Cane Sugar, Chili Pepper, Paprika, Citric Acid, Soybean, Wheat, Corn, Yeast (Baker's)
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — TWIZZLERS, LOW FAT TWISTS SNACK, RAINBOW, RAINBOW
Corn, Wheat, Cane Sugar, Glycerin/Glycerol, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
ASSORTED RAINBOW LACES CANDY
Cane Sugar, Fructose, Corn, Wheat, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — PINA COLADA NONFAT YOGURT SMOOTHIE DRINK, PINA COLADA
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Whey, Cane Sugar, Fructose, Pineapple, Coconut, Citric Acid, Corn
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
GENERAL MILLS SALES INC. — Yoplait Light Cherry Gluten-Free Fat-Free Yogurt Cup
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cherry, Corn, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Carrageenan, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Foods-Snack Foods Group — BEEF JERKY, TABASCO
Beef, Cane Sugar, Corn, Chili Pepper, Garlic, Soybean, Wheat, MSG, Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — LIGHT NON FAT YOGURT, KEY LIME PIE
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Corn, Fructose, Lime, Citric Acid, Aspartame, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — R&W HR TOM 10.75 OZ
Tomato, Corn, Fructose, Wheat, Canola/Rapeseed, Soybean, Citric Acid, Celery, Garlic
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
PepsiCo, Inc. (BFY Brands) — SOUR CREAM & ONION FLAVORED POPPED-CORN SNACK, SOUR CREAM & ONION
Corn, Sunflower, Whey, Cow's Milk, Onion, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Citric Acid, Parsley
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
PepsiCo, Inc. (CytoSport) — KNOCKOUT CHOCOLATE PRO SERIES NON DAIRY PROTEIN SHAKE, KNOCKOUT CHOCOLATE
Cow's Milk, Corn, Canola/Rapeseed, Sunflower, Cocoa, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Citric Acid, Carrageenan
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands Inc — WOLF Turkey Chili No Beans, 15 OZ
Turkey, Tomato, Chili Pepper, Corn, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CONAGRA BRANDS — HOT & SPICY SMOKED SHORTY SAUSAGES, HOT & SPICY
Pork, Garlic, Cane Sugar, Chili Pepper, Onion, Corn, Celery, Paprika, Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Minute Maid Company — LIGHT WATERMELON BLUEBERRY FLAVORED FRUIT DRINK, LIGHT WATERMELON BLUEBERRY
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Aspartame, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1, Watermelon, Blueberry
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — RED ENCHILADA SAUCE, MILD
Tomato, Corn, Cane Sugar, Chili Pepper, Soybean, Citric Acid, Onion, Garlic, Yeast (Baker's)
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Lay's Dill Pickle Flavored Potato Chips 2.875 Ounce Plastic Bag
Potato, Sunflower, Corn, Canola/Rapeseed, Garlic, Yeast (Baker's), Dill, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — V8 SPL BRY BLD 96FO
Fructose, Corn, Carrot, Sweet Potato, Cherry, Strawberry, Raspberry, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — BLUE RASPBERRY LEMONADE, STRAWBERRY WATERMELON DUOS FRUIT CHEWS, BLUE RASPBERRY LEMONADE, STRAWBERRY WATERMELON
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Tapioca, Apple, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — VERDE SALSA
Chili Pepper, Capsaicin, Solanine, Onion, Corn, Cane Sugar, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid, Garlic
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Yoplait USA — STRAWBERRY RASPBERRY BLUEBERRY YOGURT & FRUIT BLENDED BOWL SMOOTHIE, STRAWBERRY RASPBERRY BLUEBERRY
Strawberry, Raspberry, Blueberry, Yogurt, Cow's Milk, Whey, Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — WILD BERRIES GUMMIES CANDY, BLACK RASPBERRY, BLACKBERRY, CHERRY BERRY, STRAWBERRY, WHITE GRAPE
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Raspberry, Cherry, Strawberry, Grape, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — GUMMI WORMS
Corn, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Coconut, Canola/Rapeseed, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Blue #1
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Tropicana Twister Fruit Punch Flavored Drink 59 Fluid Ounce Paper Carton
Fructose, Corn, Grape, Pineapple, Pear, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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