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.
Risk Distribution
How products containing Citric Acid break down by total trigger count:
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 50 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — GRAPE CRANBERRY JUICE DRINK FROM CONCENTRATE
Grape, Cane Sugar, Cranberry, Citric Acid
|
4 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — FRUIT SNACK CUPS
Peach, Pear, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
4 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — DIJON MUSTARD
Mustard, Citric Acid, Turmeric, Grape
|
4 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — 100% JUICE, CITRUS
Apple, Grape, Orange, Citric Acid
|
4 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — GRAPE CRANBERRY JUICE DRINK FROM CONCENTRATE, GRAPE CRANBERRY
Grape, Cane Sugar, Cranberry, Citric Acid
|
4 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — SODA, LEMON LIME
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid
|
4 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — LEMON-LIME JUICY GELS, LEMON-LIME
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Blue #1, Yellow #5
|
4 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Gatorade G2 Thirst Quencher Low Calorie Mixed Berry (6-12 Fl Oz) 72 Fluid Ounce 6 Pack Plastic Bottles
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Blue #1, FD&C Red #40
|
4 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — GRAPE FLAVORED JUICE DRINK BLEND FROM CONCENTRATE, GRAPE
Grape, Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid
|
4 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Califia Farms, LP — VANILLA FLAVORED OAT CREAMER, VANILLA
Oat, Cane Sugar, Sunflower, Citric Acid
|
4 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — LEMON ZERO SUGAR ICED TEA, LEMON
Citric Acid, Tea, Aspartame, Benzoic Acid
|
4 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The J.M. Smucker Company — LITE SYRUP
Corn, Cane Sugar, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid
|
4 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — DRAGON FRUIT PUNCH ADVENTURES FLAVORED JUICE DRINK BLEND FROM CONCENTRATE, DRAGON FRUIT PUNCH
Cane Sugar, Apple, Grape, Citric Acid
|
4 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — ORIGINAL HUMMUS, ORIGINAL
Sesame, Sunflower, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
4 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — SCARY BERRY CAFFEINE FREE DRINK MIX, SCARY BERRY
Citric Acid, Corn, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
4 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Gatorade 02 Perform Thirst Quencher Fruit Punch Powder Packs (8-0.52 Oz) 4.2 Ounce 8 Pack Plastic Bag Canister
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
4 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream Inc. — ACAI BLUEBERRY FRUIT ICE BARS, ACAI BLUEBERRY
Cane Sugar, Blueberry, Tapioca, Citric Acid
|
4 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — LEMON-LIME FLAVORED CAFFEINE FREE SODA, LEMON-LIME
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid
|
4 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
MOTT'S — FREEZER BARS
Apple, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid
|
4 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hormel Foods Corporation — TURKEY PEPPERONI SNACK STIX, TURKEY PEPPERONI
Turkey, Corn, Paprika, Citric Acid
|
4 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-Van Camp — THIRST QUENCHER, PINEAPPLE MANGO
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5
|
4 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — CONCORD GRAPE, JELLY
Grape, Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid
|
4 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — MUG, SODA, ROOT BEER, ROOT BEER
Corn, Fructose, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid
|
4 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Lipton — LIQUID ICED TEA MIX
Citric Acid, Tea, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine
|
4 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — MILD DICED TOMATOES & GREEN CHILIES, MILD
Tomato, Chili Pepper, Citric Acid, Coriander/Cilantro
|
4 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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